Seed

Note : Surplus fodder in September, March & April should be conserved as silage or hay for feeding during deficit period.

A farmer who has a herd of ten milch animals will require 120 to 130 quintals of silage for 60 days when green fodder is not available. A soil pit of the dimension of 4.50 x 1.80 and 1.80 m depth with proper partitions will meet this demand. The site may be located as a place where chances of seepage of water are negligible. The sides should be slopy. The floor and the sides should be covered with 15 cm layer or dry grass or any other suitable material. The silage material may be chaffed to the length of 2 to 2.5 cm.

In order to improve the quality of silage when prepared from grasses along, 0.02 per cent urea may be mixed with the molasses which will entirely free of risk due to ammonia toxicity to the animals. The material is to be packed with the inter-mixing of molasses and urea. The packing of the material is done manually or with a suitable machinery. The heap should be 60-90 cm high above ground level which may be covered with a layer of dry grass to a thickness of 8-10 cm and then with the earth layer of 30-60 cm thickness. The dome shaped structure is then plastered with mid which will have to be repaired as and when cracks appear. The silage becomes ready for feeding to the animals after a period of 6 to 8 weeks.