Feed Conservation and Storage

Using seasonal surplus and crop by-products
for livestock during periods of feed scarcity

In most areas, there are times when feed supply exceeds the requirements for livestock, but these times are counterbalanced by times of feed scarcity later in the year when prolonged dry periods limit the amount of fresh forage available. By conserving and storing some of the feeds available during periods of surplus, livestock keepers can ensure that they have sufficient feed to offer their livestock throughout the year. In addition, when crops are harvested, there are usually residues and by-products that can be fed to livestock. The suitability of different conserved feeds and by-products for different classes of livestock depends on the nature of the feed and the livestock being kept.

Forages: Hay, Silage and Leaf Meal Crop By-products References and Further Reading Links to Research Projects

Forages (either fresh or conserved) are good sources of both energy and protein for ruminant livestock, and limited amounts can also be fed to pigs. However, they are not suitable (except in small amounts) for poultry. Many crop residues and by-products have a high fibre content, and so are also only suitable for feeding to sheep and goats. However, oilseed cakes and meals are rich sources of protein (and often have a high residual oil content as well), which makes them suitable for all classes of livestock, although they will often contain some anti-nutritive factors as well, which may limit the amount that can be fed.

All forages change in their composition and nutritive value as they mature. Immature forages have a high protein content and are usually highly digestible, but yields are low. As the plant grows, yield (i.e. total volume or bulk) increases but both digestibility and protein content decline. A balance between yield and quality therefore needs to be found when deciding when to harvest forages for conservation. In the case of grasses, this is just before they flower. At this time, the grass is still quite digestible, and yield is approaching its maximum. After flowering, grasses rapidly lose their nutritive value.

Fresh forages contain a lot of water, and this makes them prone to spoil once they have been cut. There are two ways to conserve forages. One is to dry them (to make hay), and another is to pickle them in their own juices (silage).

In areas with a long, dry season, most dry fodder will still be capable of providing sufficient energy and fibre for ruminant livestock, but it will become deficient in terms of protein and vitamins. One way to provide the quality fraction of the diet is through the use of dried leaf meal cut from a range of tree legumes.

Conserving forage by making hay
Conserving forage by making silage
Conserving forage with Legume Leaf Meal

 

Stems, leaves, seed coats and bran from cereals may be fed to ruminant livestock, although these high fibre feeds are more suitable for buffalo and cattle than small livestock. As these are by-products, harvesting time is generally dictated by the harvesting of the main crop product. This will often result in the nutritive value of the crop by-products being lower than would be the case if harvesting was done earlier.

Straw is another crop by-product, and this can be treated and then used as livestock feed. For more on the use of straw as an animal feed, see

Massawe, N.F., Owen, E., Mtenga, L.A., Romney, D.L., Ashley, S.D. and Holden, S.J. 1999. Stripping of leaf, sheath and husks combined with manual box baling as a strategy towards efficient and economical use of maize stover. Proceedings of the 25th Scientific Conference of Tanzania Society of Animal Production (ed. Kifaro, G.C., Ndemanishu, E.E. and Kakengi, A.M.V.) 25 (1998), 233-237.