Making silage for dairy cows in kenya

Making silage for dairy cows in Kenya.

What is silage?

 Silage is a form of preserved fodder that can be used for feeding cows. Silage is prepared by keeping forage in absence of air (oxygen). 

Bacteria then “eat” the fodder to produce acid that protects it from going bad. 

Cows  love aroma produce as a result of fermentation.

What is silage made from?

Common crops for making silage for dairy cows in Kenya include Napier grass, Maize, and sorghum.

Grass can also be used to make silage although its still not a common practise in Kenya.Crops to be used for making silage must be harvested at the right time.

For maize and sorghum, harvesting should be done at the milky stage. This is when the maize crop starts to produce white substance when squeezed.

For Napier grass, harvesting is done after 3 - 4 months after planting when plant is 1 metre tall.

At first harvesting it is recommended that the cutting be done at a height of 5 cm from the soil/ground.

This is to allow for more growth of new shoots. Cutting intervals usually depend on rainfall availability and the level of management.

Successive harvests should be done when the crop is 1.5 meters. Napier should be cut 5 cm from the ground. Expected yield is 20,000 to 40,000 kg of fresh Napier per acre.

Note the yield depends of the level of management.

Methods of silage making.

Different methods exist:

1.Tube silage - Used for small scale farmers with limited land sizes. Fodder is stuffed in the tubes which are ten compacted.Surface silage - Suitable for areas with good drainage.

Fodder is spread on Polythene on the ground, then covered with the soil without digging any holes.

2.Underground method- Also used in places with good drainage. can be used for both small scale and large scale where there is several tonnes of silage to be made.

Size of the hole depends on quantity of fodder available.In this example we are going to use underground method. We assume that you have dug the pit and covered it with the silage tube.

Steps in Silage making.

Step 1:Chopping -Chop the fodder at 2 cms either using a Panga (machete) or chopper.

Reason:Proper chopping height ensures that there will be maximum compaction to expel air.

It also ensures that maize grain are crushed and mixed properly into the silage. The grains will provide your cows with energy.

Step 2: Compacting-Fill the silage hole with chopped fodder applying a small layer then stepping on it before adding the next. 

Pay  extra attention to the edges of the silage hole. another option is to fill a drum with water and then role across the silage hole.

Reason: Compacting removes air. If air is not removed properly, bacteria that loves air will attack your silage and make it go bad.

Step 3: Use of molasses(optional)-Molasses are especially important when making Napier grass silage.Molasses should be mixed with water and added every layer in step 2.

Reason: Napier grass have low sugar levels. molasses give the good bacteria energy as they begin working on the Napier grass to preserve it.

Step 4: Covering the silage hole/tube-Once the whole is full and fodder properly compacted, first cover with polythene all round.The polythene that was used in the hole must be long enough to cover unto the top. Ensure you tuck in the sides so that no water sips in. use extra polythene to cover the top.

Once the forage is properly covered, cover with the soil. Again start with the edges, then gradually every part of the hole.With that you have feed for your cows during dry season.

When feeding, open up a small part of the polythene, scoop what you need for the day and then cover back tightly. If left open, bacteria will invade the silage and make it go bad.

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