What is legume silage? It is a widely used legume forage that has been fermented as high-quality animal feed. The production process involves fermenting legume forages to create high-quality animal feed, allowing the nutrients to be preserved for an extended period. There are several types of legumes such as alfalfa, soybeans, and peanuts that are often used due to their high protein content. Furthermore, in this article, we will explain more about this feed.
Contents
- 1 Benefits of Legume Silage
Benefits of Legume Silage
By using legume silage, farmers can ensure a consistent supply of high-quality feed for their livestock, that positively impacting livestock health and productivity. Why? because the legume is stored inside an airtight plastic film, particularly LLDPE silage film. Additionally, its air tight and also UV protected. Hence, there are several other significant benefits:
Improved Digestibility and Nutritional Content
The fermentation process produces feed that is easier to digest and highly nutritious, particularly in terms of protein. This makes it an excellent choice for meeting the nutritional needs of livestock.
Availability During the Dry Season
This type of silage ensures a consistent supply of quality feed, especially during the dry season or in regions with unpredictable forage availability.
Increased Soil Fertility
Legume plants are known for their ability to improve soil fertility through nitrogen fixation. While this benefit primarily applies to legumes in crop rotation systems, it underscores their agricultural value.
Legume Silage Making Process
The process of making legume silage involves several important steps to ensure effective fermentation and high feed quality:
Harvesting
Harvest legumes at the appropriate growth stage, such as early bloom, when the plants are rich in protein and contain manageable fiber levels.
Cutting and Packing
The forage is then crushed and packed tightly in an airtight container. Cutting it into small pieces or crushing it facilitates fermentation. If the plant is too wet, dry it briefly in the field under moderate sunlight to reduce the moisture content to around 60-70%.
Fermentation
The forage is fermented with the help of lactic acid bacteria, which convert sugar into lactic acid, inhibiting the growth of harmful microorganisms. The fermentation process typically takes around 21 days but may vary depending on storage conditions and ambient temperature. Achieving a vacuum and acidic atmosphere in the storage area (silo) by compacting the legumes to remove air is crucial. Furthermore, you can also store it in an air tight condition by wrapping it with silage film.
Storage and Use of Legume Silage
After fermentation is complete, the silage is ready to be used as animal feed. High-quality silage will have a fresh, sour aroma and a green color. This processed feed can be stored in airtight containers or packages to maintain its quality.
In a vacuum and acidic atmosphere, harmful bacteria and fungi are inhibited, allowing the forage to last longer. When used, silage can be fed directly to livestock or combined with other feed types, such as straw or concentrate, to meet livestock nutritional needs and balance their diet.
The Role of Nutrition in Legume Silage
Legume silage tends to have a higher nutritional content than silage from other forage types. The fermentation process allows silage to be stored for extended periods with minimal nutritional loss. Its high protein content makes it an excellent choice for meeting livestock protein needs. Additionally, this silage contains crude fiber and energy, essential for livestock health and productivity. All these factors contribute to increased milk production and meat growth in livestock, ultimately benefiting farmers.
Legume Silage Quality Monitoring
Regular monitoring of legume silage quality is essential, including checking the aroma, texture, and moisture of the silage to ensure there are no signs of spoilage or damage. When applied correctly, legume silage can be a valuable asset in animal feed management, helping farmers consistently meet the nutritional needs of their livestock.
To ensure the best quality, don’t forget to use Silograss silage film. We specialize in producing silage films for long-term feed preservation in the agricultural sector. Our silage film is renowned for its exceptional durability and high operational cost efficiency due to its 5-layer technique.