Ensilaging fodder is one of the world’s oldest and longstanding agricultural practices. The fodder is made from green foliage crops which are then preserved in airtight conditions to acidify. In addition to being financially sustainable, silage is also environmentally sustainable, a fact that consumers are becoming more aware of as they become more cognisant of climate change.
“Why do farmers manufacture silage?” is a valid question, given that the process is more involved than simply cutting and drying hay. Silage retains a higher percentage of nutrients than a dry storage alternative since it is stored with lots of moisture.
Silaging does a superb job of retaining existing nutrients while not adding any new ones. This assists the cattle or sheep in maintaining good health and strength, especially during dry seasons. Additionally, the energy in silage is crucial. It frequently provides animals, including cows, with a high-energy source. The good news is that a little goes a long way. This makes it a cheaper option for fattening grazing cattle.
As silage may be kept for up to 10 years or more, the goal is to harvest during periods of ample rainfall and then have feed reserves for the rest of the year and during seasonal dry spells or drought.
“Having control over silage quality and quantity gives farmers a way to ensure ruminants – animals like cows and sheep that have a specialised digestive system to extract nutrients from plant-based food, via fermentation – receive optimal roughage. Ruminants find silage extremely palatable and tend to prefer it to hay,” says Hanlie Kroese, a spokesperson of Santam Agri Solutions.
“Forage sorghum is drought tolerant so there’s a lower risk of crop failure, but its energy value is lower. And oats are great for a winter rainfall region like the Western Cape, where farmers follow rainfall patterns,” she adds.
Crowning the best silage producer
The Santam Agriculture National Silage Competition is now in its ninth year, and was established to highlight this very important farming practise.
“As Santam, South Africa’s largest general insurer, we are the name sponsor of the competition, which sees producers compete for the title of top silage producer or ‘Silage King’. Importantly, the data garnered creates a standard for producers to measure against, giving vital insights into how to improve production,” Kroese explains.
“Plaas Media received in excess of 100 competition entries this year, with many producers having entered for a number of years. The sampling section of the competition has just concluded, and we look forward to excellent results again this year.”
Four students from diverse South African colleges received training in accordance to a public protocol, then take samples in various locations across the country. The students chosen this year are JG Els and Andries van der Merwe from the University of the Free State, as well as Timothy Chilemba and Jaydi Stemmet from the University of Pretoria.
AGSCI Unlimited‘s Richardt Venter has instructed the students. The competition process was overseen by Professor Robin Meeske of the Outeniqua Research Farm in the Western Cape, who also examined the data collected from the lab.
“This competition is also about raising awareness of the importance of this ancient art, especially among South Africans, who are becoming increasingly conscious of the origin of their food.”
The silage judged in the competition includes maize silage, small-grain silage (oats), forage sorghum silage and silage bales. Maize is the main silage crop in South Africa and many other countries and has the highest quality and yield.
Many benefits for livestock and producers
“These silages are also appropriate for different animals, for example, a high-quality milk-producing cow needs high-energy silage, as a crop with higher fibre, lower digestibility, lower protein and/or lower energy will lower her milk production levels. Although silage is but one part of an animal’s diet, it’s a very important part.
“History has shown that silage has helped some producers survive very tough financial years. By producing good-quality silage, farmers save on costs as they themselves grow the nutrients needed to feed their animals. This impacts the profitability of the farm as farmers don’t have to buy so much feed, which can also be of poorer quality than silage,” says Kroese.
Kroese states that silage is a means for farmers to take charge of their own risk management, prepare for years with less rainfall, and make sure their animals are getting the finest nutrition possible.
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