Training Program – Livestock Component: Silage Making

Item Description
1.Training need Dry zone milk production during raining period (cropping season) is lower than in
and the dry period due to the practice of restricting cattle from open grazing to prevent
Justification damage to crops. The traditional practice of relocating cattle in grazing lands, away
from the cultivation areas, is discouraged by laws and also lack of labor. The current
practice of restriction deprives cattle from getting sufficient nutrients for milk
production. This situation could be rectified by stall feeding cattle during the crop
cultivation period. However, stall feeding could only be possible if the farmer could
offer adequate roughages to satisfy the needs of the livestock. Furthermore, it is
observed that due to shortage of labor, the farmers who are busy in crop cultivation
find it difficult to Cut-N-Feed cattle daily. Hence, one prerequisite of stall feeding is
to have an adequate amount of preserved feed stuff (silage) readily available closer
to the stall. Preservation could be carried out during the surplus period of crop
residue and fodder. However, farmers lack the knowledge and practice of
preservation of green forages and crop residue. Hence, to overcome this situation
farmers need to learn the techniques of preservation of crop residue, ensuring a
product of high nutritive value.
2.Main Objective The main objective of this training program is to provide necessary knowledge and
technical skills in line with silage preparation using green forages and crop residue
in order to provide feed with high nutritive value to increase milk production during
the cropping season.
3.Specific At the end of the training the participants will be able to,
Objectives  Explain use of silage to increase milk production
 To identify specific raw material required for silage preparation
 Prepare and store silage using different production methods
 Describe correct time of feeding and quantity
4.Participants A total of 32 farmers trained in two sessions: Vavunia from 12 farmers and 20
farmers from Anuradhapura - 4 cascades in NCP. The selected farmers should be
crop farmers with livestock (Livestock-crop farmers). Deliberations will be in both
Sinhala and Tamil. These farmers will be selected by the provincial authorities.
North Central Province - Anuradhapura
Kiulekadawewa (7/MA1) – 3 Ratmalawewa (4/Y5) - 3
Siyabalagaswewa (5/MAL6) - 3 IchchanKulam (13/MAL4) -3
Northern Province - Vavunia
NaveliKulam (4/PRA2) - 8
5.Training i. Milk production and feed availability in NCP /NP
Contents ii. Cattle feed and feeding–
a. Concentrates
b.Roughages
i. Fresh
ii. Preserved
iii. Importance of silage preparation.
a. What are cereal fodders, grass fodders, legume fodders and tree fodders? And
 when to harvest.
b.What are the methods to enrich the crop residue?
c. How to preserve those fodders in the form of silage and hay making?
d.What is Silage, Ensiling and silo?
e. Quality characteristics of silage, advantages and disadvantages
iv. Preparation of forage for silage making
a. Crop residue and green fodder.
b.Wilting
c. Chopping – Machinery
d.Mixing – Common additives / preservatives
e. Ensiling
i. Filling
ii. Ensiling
v. Feeding cattle
vi. Size and silo capacity calculation
vii. How to work out the cost benefit ratio of converting green fodder and crop
residue?
4.Methodology Mini Lecture/s
Group discussion and Practical
Field tour and demonstration
5.Duration One and a half day training program
6.Program  Dates confirmed – Day 1 – 27th/28th February and Day 2 - 2nd/3rd March 2017
Schedule Day One Day two
 2.00pm Leave for  7.30 am Breakfast
Polonnaruwa  8.15 am Leaving for demonstration area
 5.00pm Introductory Lecture  8.30 am Farmer field demonstration
 5.30pm Milk production in DZ  9.45 am Tea
 6.00pm Cattle feed and  10.00 am Each group – hands on activity of
feeding preparation of silage
 6.30 pm General Discussion  12.00 pm Program evaluation
 7.00 Divide in to four groups  1.00 pm Lunch
 7.30 End of Day 1 program  2.00 pm Leave for Anuradhapura/Vavunia
9.Venue NLDB Farm – Polonnaruwa with residential facility
10. Trainers Dr. C. Premalal Head Pasture and Fodder division – VRI, DAPH
and Facilitators Mr Nadun Welaratne Deputy Regional Manager MILCO
Dr. Thamodini Assistant Director – Vavunia – NPC
Mr M.I.Bandara – Field Officer - MILCO
11. Program i. Learning and reaction evaluation
evaluation ii. Monitoring - Monthly
iii. Performance evaluation - end of three months – No. of farmers who use silage
iv. Result evaluation – Increase in milk production by 20% by six months
12. Transport  From Anuradhapura to Polonnaruwa
 Assembling point – Anuradhapura JICA office at 2.00 pm on Day 1
 Return from Polonnaruwa – 2.00 pm on Day 2
o A travelling allowance will be paid to the participants to cover the cost of
transport from their residence to the assembly point and vice-versa
o Designated DAPH VS and MILCO Field Officer will accompany each farmer group
13. Activities and   2016 2017
Month 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Schedule: 1. Selection of FMS and Participants                  
2.Procurement of Equipment etc                  
3. Field Demonstration and training                  
4. Monitoring and evaluation                  
5. Field training and other farmers                  
6. Group discussions with FMS members                  
7. Analysis of results                
8. Feedback to cascade system development plan                  
14. Budget a. Transport of farmers @ Rs 35000 per round trip X 2 = Rs 70,000
b. Use of training facility - Farmer demonstration unit @ Rs 2000 =Rs 4,000
c. Resource person Dr Premalal@ Rs 700 per hour for 5 hours X 2 =Rs 7,000
d. Travel expenses of Dr Premalal @ Rs 3000 X 2 = Rs 6000
e. Accommodation for Dr Premalal @ Rs 4000 per room X2 = Rs 8000
f. Accommodation @ Rs 4000 per day X 1 night X 2 = Rs 8,000
g. Dinner @ Rs 3200 X 2 = Rs 6,400
h. Morning tea and Breakfast @ Rs 11,000 X 2 days = Rs 22,000
i. Lunch @ Rs 3200 X 2 =Rs 6,400
j. Refreshments @ Rs 75 X 36 persons =Rs 2,700
k. Travel cost of farmers from/to home to Apura Rs 350 X 32 =Rs 11,200
Rs 151,700