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Forage Crops :: Fodder Preservation Techniques

Characteristics of Good Silage

The golden brown or greenish yellow colour and the pleasant fruity odour will speak more than the chemical parameters regarding the quality of silage. In addition to that,

  • No mould growth.

  • Pleasant fruity odour/ an acceptable aroma.

  • Liked very much by animals because of mild-acidic taste and pleasant aroma.

  • Free flowing and non-sticky texture.

  • 3-4% increased palatability.

  • Increased nutritive value.

  • pH around 4.0-4.5.

  • Lactic acid is proportionately more than the other acids.

  • Butyric acid is very low and is in the range of 0.2-0.5%.

  • In general nitrate-N decreases and ammoniacal-N upon ensiling. Ammoniacal N should not exceed 9-15 % of the total-N.