What is silage
Silage is a type of fodder made from green foliage crops which have been preserved by acidification, achieved through fermentation. This process is called ensilaging, and it essentially pickles the crop, inhibiting the growth of undesirable bacteria and fungi. Silage is used to feed livestock during times when fresh forage is not available, such as during winter or in arid regions.
To make silage, crops like grasses, legumes (such as clover or alfalfa), maize (corn), sorghum, or other cereal grains are harvested before they mature fully. The plant material is then compressed to expel as much oxygen as possible and stored in an airtight container, such as a silo, pit, or wrapped in plastic as bales. The anaerobic conditions that result enable lactic acid bacteria present on the plants to ferment sugars in the plant material into lactic acid and other acids, lowering the pH and preserving the feed.
The resulting silage is high in moisture and can be fed to ruminants like cattle and sheep year-round, providing a nutritious and palatable feed that can contribute to maintaining animal health and productivity during periods when pasture growth is limited.