animal production - CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University ...

ii. The chaffed materials should be uniformly mixed with urea, mineral mixture and molasses in the
following proportions :
Chaffed material : 100 kg
Molasses : 10 kg
Urea : 1 kg
Mineral mixture : 2 kg
Urea and mineral mixture should be well dissolved in about 10 L of water and then mixed with molasses. This
solution should be uniformly sprinkled over the spread chaffed material and the mixing should be done thoroughly to have
even distribution of the urea-molasses mixture.
iii. The mixed feed prepared as above can be fed immediately or can be preserved after proper drying in
sun.
Precaution : Urea should be well dissolved in water before mixing with molasses and thereafter uniformly mixed with the
chaffed material assuring its uniform distribution in the chaffed material.
Silage making
Silage is the term used for the product formed when suitable green herbage is stored and is allowed to ferment
anaerobically. Ensilage is the name given to the process and the container used, is called silo. The fermentation is controlled
either by encouraging the formation of organic acids (mainly lactic acid) by bacteria present on the fresh herbage or
by direct addition of acids or preservatives. In both the cases, the first objective is to achieve and maintain anaerobic conditions
and the second is to discourage clostridial fermentation that leads to the production of CO2 NH3 and undesirable
nitrogenous compounds such as amines. The practice of anaerobic conditions can be achieved by having suitable type of
silos i.e. sealed plastic silo, tall tower type silo or open type bunker silo. The efficiency with which anaerobiosis can be
obtained depends upon the degree of consolidation and final sealing. The clostridial activity can be checked by ensiling
green crops having 28% or more dry matter and by encouraging lactic acid fermentation or by adding specific additives.
Crops suitable for silage: There are many kinds of silages as there are crops and crop mixtures. The crop to be used for
making silage should have an adequate amount of fermentable carbohydrate contents, carry suitable type of microbial
population and should have the ability to achieve and maintain anaerobic conditions in the silo. Common crops used for
silage making are, maize, sorghum, bajra or their admixture with cowpea and soybean, green grasses or their admixtures
with suitable legumes, green oats or admixture with peas. When properly made, silage is not only palatable but also
nutritious having an agreeable flavour and high carotene contents. The loss of nutrients is comparatively much less than
when the green crops are cured as hay.
How to make silage: The quantity of silage required for a farm depends upon the herd strength and the period for which to
be fed. For a unit of ten animals, approximately 250 qtls of silage is required for feeding for four months. Under Indian
conditions, bunker silos are ideal for the making of good quality silage. Only the kharif fodders and grasses are available in
plenty, which can be conserved for feeding during the winter months. These fodders and grasses are usually poor in crude
protein content and therefore the addition of non-protein-nitrogenous sources can be made in the presence of soluble
carbohydrates from molasses. Two silo bunkers of the dimensions of 15' x 9' x 6' each, will be sufficient to preserve 250 qtls
of silage from maize, sorghum, bajra or green grasses or green oats. The site of the silo bunker should be located at a
comparatively elevated spot. The bunker may be concrete of earth work and the later should be suitably lined at the bottom
and sides with a polythene sheet or a layer of grass. The silage crop should be suitably chaffed to a chop size of 2 to 2.5
cm. The following quantities of additives may be added :
S.No. Silage crop Additives
1. Green grasses or maize, 5 to 10% of molasses
sorghum, bajra,teosinte and 0.3% urea (fresh
or their mixtures weight basis).
2. Legumes and grasses 5 to 8% molasses
mixture.
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