Silage-making process in Kenya without molasses, a new faster alternative

In our previous article on the new silage-making process in Kenya, we looked at various requirements for quality silage. The use of substrates such as molasses is a major requirement in silage making.

Two viable alternatives to molasses for making silage are Ecosyl 100 and Molaplus livestock microbes. Livestock microbes, such as Molaplus, contain organic acids, lactic bacteria, beneficial yeast, and phototropic bacteria.

These microbes help in chelating minerals, secreting antioxidants, enzymes, and vitamins, and enhancing the digestive process of ruminants, thereby increasing milk production, and animal growth, and minimizing feed wastage.

Silage making process in Kenya without molasses, farmers can follow these steps:

Silage-making process in Kenya using livestock microbes

1. Harvest mature and moist maize fodder and chop it to a length of 1-2 inches.
2. Dilute the livestock microbes (3 liters) into 18 liters of water.
3. Sprinkle the diluted solution sparingly over the chopped fodder and mix it thoroughly with 1-1.2 tonnes of fodder.
4. Heap the mixture into a silage pit or silage bag and compact it well to make it airtight.
5. After 3-4 weeks, the silage is ready to use.

Silage-making process in Kenya using Ecosyl 100

Ecosyl 100 is an inoculant typically used in silage-making as it enhances fermentation and animal performance. It contains a specific strain of bacteria called MTD/1.

To use Ecosyl in silage-making, farmers should dilute 20ml of Ecosyl in 2 litres of water and spray it sparingly over 2 tons of fodder.

Then heap and compact the silage into air-tight silage pits or silage bags for fermentation.

For farmers who add maize germ to their silage, they can still use it with livestock microbes. Another significant use of livestock microbes is in fermenting dairy meals for dairy cows.

Thought you might also love to learn;

Molaplus microbes speed up the fermentation process and maximize nutrient extraction, thereby enhancing the quality of dairy meals.

Feeding trials with Ecosyl treated silage have shown significant increases in dry matter DM and Organic matter digestibility OMD.

Silage DM intake was increased by an average of 5%, while organic matter digestibility (OMD) was increased by an average of 3 ‘D’ units over the untreated silage

Farmers feeding with quality silage made of livestock microbes or Ecosyl have testified to an increase in milk production of up to 13.5%

Conclusion

Employing livestock microbes or Ecosyl expedites the process of fermentation and enhances the quality of silage.

It is also more cost-effective and safer than using molasses, which could cause rotting.

Moreover, unlike molasses, livestock microbes can preserve dry maize stocks for months without compromising their quality.

However, if the compaction process is inadequate or if air or water enters, the silage could rot.

Livestock microbes and Ecosyl are available at our farm shops. Order on +254 736 906 472

As a professional farmer, ensure that you use the appropriate substrates and microbes for optimal silage-making results.

About Post Author