Silage: A Solution to Feed Shortage for Ethiopian Farmers

The rains have come and the dry season is officially over! While many farmers may be rejoicing at the end of the dry spell, it's important to remember that the challenges of feeding livestock persist year-round. The cost of producing milk continues to rise, and the shortage of succulent green feed is always looming.

Introducing silage, a cost-effective and easy method of livestock feed preservation. Silage is a method used to preserve green plant material for cows to eat later. It involves cutting different forages such as cereals, grasses, and legumes, and fermenting them to preserve as many nutrients as possible. The end result is a highly palatable and digestible feed that can be supplied to cattle in times of scarcity. However, when using silage, the farmers need to use it in moderation as to avoid issues like acidosis as a result of excessive feeding.

Despite its many benefits, silage is a technique many farmers are unfamiliar of and therefore training is required along with inputs such as a chopper, plastic balls or containers, among others. But those who have tried it have seen some impressive results.

Silage not only increases milk production but also reduces the cost of production. With Silage farmers can now avoid using expensive concentrate feed during the dry season. It's a win-win for both farmers and their livestock. “Silage can replace the popular local distiller by- product called “brint” says farmer from Amhara.

Silage not only increases milk production but also reduces the cost of production. With Silage farmers can now avoid using expensive concentrate feed during the dry season. It's a win-win for both farmers and their livestock. “Silage can replace the popular local distiller by- product called “brint” says farmer from Amhara.

But the benefits of silage don't stop there. Silage making has also opened up new business opportunities for farmers and agro-input dealers. "I produced oat-vetch silage on 2 hectares of land partly for my lactating cows and promoting silage business. I gave silage free to 9 farmers and sold it to many farmers. The farmers then resold a PICS bag (60 kg) for 7.55 USD to other dairy farmers," says an agro-input dealer from South East Oromia.

As part of the Building Rural Income through Inclusive Dairy Business Growth in Ethiopia (BRIDGE) project, silage-making has emerged as a viable solution for Ethiopian dairy farmers to maintain milk production during the dry season while reducing feed costs and improving animal health. Additionally, silage making presents a new business opportunity in the country, which can be promoted through the use of low-cost fermenting agents, such as locally available distillery and brewery by-products, as well as the provision of choppers and training on proper ensiling and feeding techniques, with a focus on harvest stage.

As the rainy season sets in, now is the perfect time for farmers to start thinking about making silage. It's a simple and effective way to ensure a steady supply of nutritious feed for their livestock year-round. And with the added benefits of increased milk production and lower costs, it's a technique that no farmer can afford to overlook. So let's make silage while the rain falls!