What Is Silage? A Complete Guide in One Article
Silage is a kind of coarse feed obtained by chopping green feed with a moisture content of 65%-75% and, under sealed and oxygen-free conditions, using the fermentation of anaerobic lactic acid bacteria to inhibit the reproduction of various spoilage microorganisms. It has a sour and fragrant smell, is soft and juicy, has good palatability, is rich in nutrients, and is suitable for long-term storage, making it an excellent feed source for livestock.
The raw materials for silage include corn, ryegrass, smooth brome, alfalfa, clover, Chinese milk vetch, sweet potato, pumpkin, amaranth, aquatic plants, and more. There are mainly three types:
1. Ordinary silage: the raw materials are chopped, compacted, and sealed, so that under anaerobic conditions lactic acid bacteria multiply in large numbers, converting the starch and soluble sugars in the feed into lactic acid. Once the lactic acid accumulates to a certain concentration, it inhibits the growth of spoilage bacteria and preserves the nutrients in the green feed.
2. Haylage (low-moisture silage): the raw materials have a low moisture content, which puts microorganisms into a state of physiological dryness, so their growth and reproduction are inhibited, microbial fermentation in the feed is weak, and nutrients are not decomposed, thereby achieving the purpose of preserving nutrients. Because of its low moisture content, this type of silage has less strict requirements for other conditions, so it expands the range of raw materials compared with ordinary silage.
3. Additive silage: some additives are added during ensiling to influence the fermentation of the silage. For example, adding various soluble carbohydrates, inoculating lactic acid bacteria, or adding enzyme preparations can promote lactic acid fermentation, rapidly produce a large amount of lactic acid, and quickly bring the pH to the required level (3.8-4.2); or adding various acids, bacteriostatic agents, and the like can inhibit the growth of spoilage bacteria and other microorganisms unfavorable to silage. For example, ryegrass silage can have a formaldehyde/formic acid mixture (3:1) added at a ratio of 10 grams/kg; or adding urea, ammonia compounds, and the like can increase the nutrient content of the silage. This can improve the silage effect and expand the range of silage raw materials.