Abstract:
In Sri Lanka, rice straw, crop residues and over matured natural forages are the major
roughages available for feeding dairy animals during dry season. In some South Asian
countries such as India, Pakistan and Nepal silage feeding as a supplement is being
practiced extensively during dry spells and farmers are compelled to produce silage in
small polyethylene bags as SPBS. Its viability and economy have also been verified by
these countries. This technique is absolutely novel to Sri Lanka. The objective of this
adaptive study was to evaluate the technique and cost of production of SPBS under on farm conditions of small dairy holdings in the dry zone.
' Five dairy homesteads in Kekirawa, Tanamalwila, Lunugamvehera, Hambantota and
Suriyawewa veterinary ranges were selected. Strong high density polythene bags to
outfit a capacity of 50 kg of chopped green fodder were used for silage making. The
farm grown fodder was harvested and was either hand chopped with a large knife, or
chopped through a chaff cutter. Chopped green fodder in 50 kg of weight was carefully
i packed into a bag with 3kg of molasses, 250g of urea and 250g of kitchen salt (NaCl)
as additives. The bag was gently squeezed by hand to expel air while compressed the
forage material into the bag. The bag was then inverted into second and third empty
bags which was also closed and tied. A set of 5 bags (as 5 replicates) were prepared
; using same techniques and raw materials in each locations. After a minimum of 45 days
period bags were opened and observed the smell and appearance of the silage matter.
Cost of production - COP (labour wages for harvesting, chopping and filling of fodder,
and bag cost) were also calculated. COP data were analyzed using ANOVA.
Investigators observed that smell of lactic acid fermentation resulted in eveiy lot of
silage at all locations and appearance (colour and texture) of silage was also similar to
the typical silage quality. Cost of production including bag price varied from 4.75 to
5.25 Rs/kg of silage and it was not significant (P>0.05) among farm locations: It was
concluded that preparation of SPBS could be carried out at a reasonable cost in small
farmsteads. The technique would also be realistic as outer two bags of each SPBS are
kept for re-use. Further studies on farmer adoption on the technique and long term
keeping ability of SPBS are also suggested.
