Feed Silage: Scientific Basics and Benefits

Silage technology offers many benefits to livestock farms. The method allows providing livestock with a nutritious feed base at any time of the year. If traditional haymaking involves the preservation of 70% of useful elements, then silage increases this figure by 20%. This is largely achieved by maintaining conditions that exclude the negative processes of decay of valuable elements, including protein. Most importantly, feed silos can be organized even in small farms. Of course, we are talking about small volumes and with minimal technical means of organizing canning, but for a typical private land the method can be effective.

feed silo

General Scientific Basics of Siloing

The process of obtaining feed is focused on the maximum provision of the target economy with the necessary nutrients. Therefore, the basis of feed silo is a complex of biochemical reactions during which relatively fresh, but dense and safe plant mass is preserved. Technologists exclude the admission of air to future feed during the conservation process, resulting in the accumulation of organic acids. In particular, lactic acid is produced , which acts as a necessary means of ensuring the effect of conservation. In addition, the biochemical medium formed at the first stages of storage protects the mass from spoilage and decomposition.

The question may arise where the substances so necessary for favorable conditions of preservation come from. And this is one of the main advantages of this technology. The fact is that the silage of feed practically does not require the introduction of special modifiers and reagents. All processes that occur during conservation are natural and based on the work of local plant enzymes and beneficial microorganisms that enter the feed along with green grass.

What affects the quality of the silo?

feed silo preservative

The quality characteristics of the silage mass depend on two factors - its fineness and humidity. The optimal lactic acid reaction process is determined by the balanced concentration of sugar and other components in the herb juice. With increased humidity, the risk of dilution of the sugar base increases, which does not affect the properties of the finished feed in the best way. Conversely, excessive dryness, as a rule, brings more air into the mass, which reduces the efficiency of conservation as such. The optimal moisture content of the plant mass is about 70%. As regards crushing, this factor is related to the previous one. If the silage of the feed is carried out at a humidity level of 60%, then the cutting is performed in increments of 2-3 cm. At 70%, the indent between the slices should be 4-5 cm. If the humidity indicator is brought to 80%, then the grinding involves intervals of 9 -10 cm. In this case, the fine grass can be preserved in its original form, except for hard-to-seal and coarsened plants.

Microbiological control

silage of molds

It has already been noted that the mass of silage in terms of providing preservatives is self-sufficient. But this can only be achieved if the biochemical processes are properly regulated, in which the main active element, lactic acid, will be developed. The main tool for managing its production can be called limited access to oxygen. Full tightness of the bookmark will ensure high-quality silage of feed. Mold fungi appear in cases of violation of this rule and adversely affect the characteristics of the mass. In particular, aerobic fungi of the Mucor and Aspergillus families appear in the air and decompose not only lactic acid, but also protein elements with carbohydrates. If there is no confidence in the reliability of the structure in terms of tightness, then as an additional preservative, feed additives in the form of molasses such as molasses, formic acid or natural starter cultures from cultures containing lactic acid bacteria can be used.

Silage mass bookmark

feed silage methods

The laying process should be carried out as quickly as possible, since the laid mass in the building is heated and contact with available oxygen leads to a loss of protein, and the protein becomes indigestible. As a rule, when servicing large multi-ton storage facilities, the process takes 5-7 days. Similar work on small farms should be completed 2-3 days after the start of the event. Just as quickly, the first layers of insulating material should be laid, thanks to which the feed silo preservative is more actively produced and stored for a long time. As such a material, a film can be used, but only with reinforcing notches to give rigidity.

Conservation Facilities

feed silage basics

Now it’s worth considering in more detail directly the structures into which the installation can be carried out. There are two options for organizing the silage process - horizontal and vertical. The first option involves the use of trenches and pits that contain plant mass. Such methods are good for ease of maintenance and low cost. But they are more often used in private farms, because they can not accommodate large volumes of procurement. Vertical ways of siloing feed involve the use of cylindrical building structures. They are also called silos, and, depending on the technical design, can hold from several to 500 tons of plant mass.

Silage Compaction

silage of feed at home

Ramming is also a necessary technological step in the process of preparing plant mass for silage. The operation can be performed by various technical means up to improvised household materials. It is impossible to overdo it in the seal - the higher the density, the better, since less air will remain in the laid seams. If silage is carried out at home without machinery, special attention should be paid to the corners and places near the side walls. In such areas, air is most often collected, which descends into the lower layers.

Benefits of Siloing

Compared with other types of feed, this option allows you to get just a natural product at low cost for the implementation of technological stages. Even on large livestock farms that invest considerable financial resources in special equipment and silos, cooking feed pays for itself. The advantages of the method include the availability in the organization of the overall process. Even in household conditions, technology can be followed. So, the basics of feed silage as the main condition for the maintenance of plant mass confirm the maintenance of tightness. It is quite possible to accomplish it with the help of an in-depth trench and several decks of film material.

Conclusion

feed silo is based on

Still, the preparation of silage cannot be called a completely free option for obtaining nutritious food. Those wishing to try this method in the conditions of their economy should initially determine what herbs are available for this task. For example, it is recommended to use legumes and cereals. Also silage of feed depending on the scale of production requires regular monitoring with the help of special devices. So, modern silos are equipped with measuring instruments that determine humidity and temperature conditions. But in any case, even the additional investments justify themselves by the fact that the cattle receives a truly nutritious and environmentally friendly feed, which can be used even in the winter with appropriate conservation.


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