Silage in Pakistan

Business and economic framework

 Overview of Silage
▪ Silage is feed that has been preserved by acidification - the
result of fermentation in the absence of oxygen. Any green
crop with adequate water-soluble carbohydrates (sugars) and
the correct moisture content can be cut, chopped and ensiled.
▪ Suitable crops include corn and other cereals, legumes such
as faba beans and alfalfa, perennial grasses and even weeds
such as kochia. The most popular silage crops in Manitoba
are cereal grains, corn and alfalfa.
▪ To preserve the fodder in the green succulent form at low pH
under anaerobic condition to microbes is called silage.
Source: University of Manitoba
 There is more than one type of Silage
source : U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center
 Advantages of Silage 
▪ Surplus green fodder abundantly available can be preserved as silage
for feeding during lean season
▪ The organic acids produced in the silage are similar to those normally
produced in the digestive tract of the ruminants; so digestibility of
fodder increases
▪ It eliminates wastage of the less favoured parts of the fresh fodder like
stem because the animals consume entire plant.
▪ It is highly palatable 
▪ It cannot be destroyed by fire
▪ It provides succulent feed particularly during dry periods, when the
vegetation growth is dormant.
▪ It is more economical as compared to cut-and-carry prevailing system.
Source: Pak Dairy Info
Successful conversion of forage crops into
Silage
 Problems In Making Silages
▪ If during silage making acid is not produced in sufficient
quantity, it will stop the fermentation.
▪ if there is production of acid in high quantity due to high
proportion of sugar content, it will result in sour unpalatable
silage. Such silage is not only unpalatable, but when fed in
large quantity causes cattle to scour.
Source: Pak Dairy Info
 The specialized device or container used for preparation of
silage is called silo and the types are:
▪ Pile - In this type of silo there is no need of construction. Only a pile of
chopped fodder is made on a ground and it is pressed with the help of tractor.
▪ Long Silage Bag - This type of silo consists of long stretchable bag.

▪ Silo tower - These are long vertical silo of steel or concrete.

▪ Silage Bunker - Silage Bunker is most commonly used type of silo. This is
rectangular structure which is open from one side or both sides.

▪ Temporary Bunker - Temporary bunker consists of two frames of steel or iron

which are covered by sheets of steel, iron or wood.

▪ Silage Pit - In this type of silo, a pit is constructed in ground.

▪ Baled Silage - This is the most modern way of silage making in which fodder
is preserved in the form of bale.
 Few of the well Known Suppliers of Silage in
Pakistan
▪ Manzoor Karim Group of Business.
▪ A2ZEE COPR INC.
▪ ABC AGRI. Lahore.
▪ AL Raheem EnterPrises.
▪ AL-Qamar commodities.
▪ AMT INTERNATIONAL.
▪ AQUATIC SHIPPING TRADING CO.
▪ Source: livestock1.com
 Need of Silage in Punjab
▪ Currently Punjab is facing about 75% fodder shortage in the province resultantly
animals are under-fed and non-productive.
▪ Punjab livestock & dairy development board (PLDDB) has taken initiative to meet
the demand and supply gap of fodder as per its capacity.
▪ PLDDB has launched Punjab Silage project to cater the need of 90% small farmers
by providing 60 Kg bales and 1ton silage bale to cater the need of 10%
commercial farmers.
▪ PLDDB team has successfully launched 3 silage production sites at Kasur, Hujra
and Chiniot whereas 4th site at Arifwala is in pipeline.
▪ The production units have produced 84,000 (60 kg bales) and 9,000 (1ton bales)
silage bales in one year. PLDDB has developed proper distribution network in the
11 districts of Punjab including some areas of KPK and Karachi as well.
▪ PLDDB is also working with Engro Foods to propagate the silage in Southern
Punjab.
 Steps in the Preparation of Good Silage
▪ There should be adequate amount of fermentable
carbohydrates and more than 65% moisture in fodder
selected for silage making.
▪ Commonly used fodder for silage making are maize, sorghum,
millet, oat, and sorghum sudan grass.
▪ Leguminous fodder crops can also be used for silage making
but they contain fewer amounts of carbohydrates hence
molasses or mineral have to be sprinkled over them at the
time of silage making.
▪ Most of the time maize is used for silage making as maize
silage is considered the best silage throughout the world.
 Silage Production Finances
source:
Pre-Feasibility Study
 
SILAGE PRODUCTION IN SILO-PIT IN
PERI-URBAN AREAS

PAKISTAN AGRICULTURE RESEARCH COUNCIL

ISLAMABAD
MINISTRY OF NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY AND
RESEARCH