Forage Forage ConservationConservation

Need for conservationNeed for conservation

Feeding during drought or floodsFeeding during drought or floods Utilizing surplus forageUtilizing surplus forage Transport of feedTransport of feed

Methods of ConservationMethods of Conservation

HayHay SilageSilage HaylageHaylage

HayHay

Grasses are cut at optimum growth stageGrasses are cut at optimum growth stage Left in the field to dryLeft in the field to dry Machine used to turn over grass to aid Machine used to turn over grass to aid

drying (tedder)drying (tedder) Dried grass swept in rows (windrow)Dried grass swept in rows (windrow) Hay baler used to compress dried grass Hay baler used to compress dried grass

– cubes or big round bales– cubes or big round bales Can also be used to conserve rice strawCan also be used to conserve rice straw

Big bale hayBig bale hay

Padi straw hayPadi straw hay

Problems with making Problems with making hayhay

Need plenty of sunshine – 3 consecutive Need plenty of sunshine – 3 consecutive days without raindays without rain

Easily spoilt by moulds if not quickly driedEasily spoilt by moulds if not quickly dried Requires heavy investment in machineryRequires heavy investment in machinery Large storage area is requiredLarge storage area is required Can be a fire hazardCan be a fire hazard

HaylageHaylage

Forage that is baled at a Forage that is baled at a higher moisturehigher moisture content than dry hay and then stored in a content than dry hay and then stored in a sealed plastic wrap. sealed plastic wrap.

Because of the high moisture level and Because of the high moisture level and air-tight environment, the forage air-tight environment, the forage fermentsferments and is preserved by acid production and is preserved by acid production during fermentation. during fermentation.

Advantages of HaylageAdvantages of Haylage

Decreased Decreased curing timecuring time needed from cutting to needed from cutting to baling makes weather less of a factor in forage baling makes weather less of a factor in forage harvesting. harvesting.

Potential for more timely harvest of large Potential for more timely harvest of large quantities of forage. quantities of forage.

Decreased need for mechanical handling and Decreased need for mechanical handling and time curing to dry the forage reduces the loss time curing to dry the forage reduces the loss of leaves, the most digestible part of the plant. of leaves, the most digestible part of the plant.

Potential for higher feed quality bale through Potential for higher feed quality bale through leaf preservation and possible nitrate leaf preservation and possible nitrate reduction. reduction.

Disadvantages of haylageDisadvantages of haylage

Increased harvest cost per bale vs. Increased harvest cost per bale vs. conventional cured hay. conventional cured hay.

Disposal of used plastic wrap. Disposal of used plastic wrap. More likely to spoil as compared to silage in More likely to spoil as compared to silage in

traditional silos. traditional silos. Risk of forage spoilage if integrity of wrap is not Risk of forage spoilage if integrity of wrap is not

maintained. Birds and rodents can puncture maintained. Birds and rodents can puncture plastic and holes must be covered. plastic and holes must be covered.

Transportation of bales is limited due to cost of Transportation of bales is limited due to cost of moving high-moisture bales. moving high-moisture bales.

How haylage is madeHow haylage is made

The forage is cut as if for haymaking, but The forage is cut as if for haymaking, but is baled at is baled at 50 to 60% moisture50 to 60% moisture rather rather than at 18-20% moisture. than at 18-20% moisture.

SILAGESILAGE

Forage that is conserved by reducing pH Forage that is conserved by reducing pH through natural anaerobic fermentationthrough natural anaerobic fermentation

Advantages of silageAdvantages of silage

More palatable than hayMore palatable than hay Not dependent on weatherNot dependent on weather Can be kept longer without deteriorationCan be kept longer without deterioration Not easily inflammableNot easily inflammable Requires less storage areaRequires less storage area

Mechanised Silage Mechanised Silage MakingMaking

Principle of Silage Principle of Silage conservationconservation

Forages are conserved in an Forages are conserved in an environment of environment of low pH (4.2)low pH (4.2) and and anaerobicanaerobic conditions where biochemical conditions where biochemical processes and activities of decomposing processes and activities of decomposing aerobicaerobic bacteria and fungi are inhibited bacteria and fungi are inhibited

Materials which can be Materials which can be ensiledensiled

GrassesGrasses SorghumSorghum MaizeMaize Oil palm frondsOil palm fronds Crop byproducts (pineapple skin, cocoa Crop byproducts (pineapple skin, cocoa

pods)pods)

Factors required for good Factors required for good silagesilage

Airtight – to provide anaerobic conditionsAirtight – to provide anaerobic conditions Moisture content in forage 65-75%Moisture content in forage 65-75% Adequate soluble carbohydrates (>3%)Adequate soluble carbohydrates (>3%) Compaction of materials to exclude airCompaction of materials to exclude air Not contaminated with foreign matter e.g. Not contaminated with foreign matter e.g.

soilsoil

Silage making processSilage making process

Grass is cut at Grass is cut at optimum growth optimum growth stagestage

Grass chopped upGrass chopped up

Silage making process (2)Silage making process (2)

Chopped grass filled in silo:Chopped grass filled in silo: Bunker siloBunker silo Pit siloPit silo Tower siloTower silo ContainerContainer

Chopped grass compressed to exclude airChopped grass compressed to exclude air Silo is sealed airtightSilo is sealed airtight Left for at least 21 days to complete ensilationLeft for at least 21 days to complete ensilation

Tower SiloTower Silo

Phases of fermentationPhases of fermentation

Baled silageBaled silage

Baled Silage in N.Z.Baled Silage in N.Z.

Baled silage

Baled SilageBaled Silage

The SilagerThe Silager

An invention in Institut Haiwan KluangAn invention in Institut Haiwan Kluang Able to mechanically compress silage in Able to mechanically compress silage in

a bina bin

Mechanical press

SILAGER II

Entry for fresh fodder

Forage chopped

conveyor

collection

Phase IPhase I

Grass is put in siloGrass is put in silo Respiration Respiration

continuescontinues Oxygen is used upOxygen is used up COCO22 and heat is and heat is

releasedreleased Temperature risesTemperature rises

Phase 2Phase 2

Acetic acid is Acetic acid is releasedreleased

pH declines from 6.0 pH declines from 6.0 to 4.2to 4.2

Phase 3Phase 3

Lactic acid is Lactic acid is releasedreleased

Acetic acid declinesAcetic acid declines

Phase 4Phase 4

Lactic acid Lactic acid production continuesproduction continues

Temperature Temperature declinesdeclines

Bacterial activity Bacterial activity stops at pH 4.0stops at pH 4.0

Characteristics of Good Characteristics of Good SilageSilage

pH < 4.5pH < 4.5 Lactic acid 3 -13%Lactic acid 3 -13% Butyric acid < 0.2%Butyric acid < 0.2% Colour: yellowish to brownish greenColour: yellowish to brownish green Odour: sweet smelling (vinegar smell)Odour: sweet smelling (vinegar smell) Wetness – no seepageWetness – no seepage Palatability – readily accepted by animalsPalatability – readily accepted by animals Nutritive value – almost similar to original Nutritive value – almost similar to original

materialmaterial

Additional steps for Additional steps for making good silagemaking good silage

Chop the material to allow easy Chop the material to allow easy compactioncompaction

Use additives: corn, soybean, molasses Use additives: corn, soybean, molasses to increase soluble carbohydrates and to increase soluble carbohydrates and protein (esp. if < 3% soluble protein (esp. if < 3% soluble carbohydrate)carbohydrate)

Use enzymes to aid fermentationUse enzymes to aid fermentation

Silage additivesSilage additives

A.A. Stimulants Stimulants aid in the growth of the lactic aid in the growth of the lactic acid bacteria and the production of their acid bacteria and the production of their acids so as to reduce silage pH at a acids so as to reduce silage pH at a faster rate. faster rate.

Silage additivesSilage additives

B.B. Inhibitors Inhibitors help to slow down unwanted help to slow down unwanted silage degradation. For example, silage degradation. For example, inhibitors may reduce mold growth or inhibitors may reduce mold growth or reduce the breakdown of plant proteins. reduce the breakdown of plant proteins.

Silage additivesSilage additives

Bacterial InoculantsBacterial Inoculants are the main type of are the main type of silage additive used in the U.S (about silage additive used in the U.S (about 70% of all additives). 70% of all additives). 

They contain inactive bacteria that become They contain inactive bacteria that become active once they are put on the wet active once they are put on the wet forage. forage.

Silage additivesSilage additives

SugarsSugars such as molasses, glucose, and such as molasses, glucose, and dextrose can be added to forage to dextrose can be added to forage to increase the lactic acid content of the increase the lactic acid content of the silage by supplying more food (sugar) for silage by supplying more food (sugar) for the lactic acid bacteria to grow on. the lactic acid bacteria to grow on.

Silage additivesSilage additives

EnzymesEnzymes are proteins that speed up the are proteins that speed up the break down of plant carbohydrates to break down of plant carbohydrates to sugars sugars

Common sources of enzymes include, Common sources of enzymes include, Aspergillus oryzae, Aspergillus nigerAspergillus oryzae, Aspergillus niger, and , and Bacillus subtillusBacillus subtillus. .