Silage a better supplement?

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 11, 12 August 1986, Page 6

Silage a better supplement?

A field day with a difference, that's how the silage field day held in the Waimarino last week could have been descrbed. About 26 farmers turned out to discuss the properties of silage and its benefits to farmers and their livestock. Taihape's farm advisory officer Roy Fraser was spokesman for the day, his aim being to promote the use of silage as a supplementary winter fodder. Three local properties were visited. with each farmer illustrating a different method of silage distribution — hand-feeding, selffeeding and the use of a self-unloading trailer. The techniques for each method were demonstrated and then discussed in terms of advantages and disadvantages. ♦ Silage was described as one of the cheapest types of supplementary fodder avail-

able. Its quality depends on the quality of matter in its makeup. Silage is prepared in late spring or early summer so as to utilise the surplus growth of lush spring grass. The grass is cut and left to wilt long enough to reduce its water content. It is then gathered into a mound or pit made airtight to allow fermentation. The process of producing silage was described as that of "pickling" rather than "cooking" the matter. During its fermentation silage is noted for its unmistakable pungent smell. Pros and cons of mound and pit storage were looked at. Pit storage exposes more silage to the air, which leads to less wasting through rotting. Mounding silage means more loss by rotting but easier feeding for stock on the greater exposed area.

A combination of black plastic, sawdust, wood chips and rubber tyres stops air from entering the silage while it is in storage. The idea of a syndicate was suggested to farmers worried about financial problems of preparation and feeding out silage. This would mean the cost of production and specialised equipment was shared by the group. A method of reducing

waste was described — a specially designed piece of machinery that cuts the prepared silage into blocks. This makes the process tidier and does not allow air to circulate inside the heap. Farmers were urged to consider silage as an alternative to hay or other winter supplements because of its simplicity and its comparatively low cost. This should appeal to most farmers during these financially troubled times.