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Poster 8.1: Sila-wrapped grass silage production using the small bale system (SBS) for feeding of goats and sheep - S.S. Shariffah Noorhani, A. Aini and A.B. Idris


S.S. Shariffah Noorhani, A. Aini and A.B. Idris

Department of Veterinary Services
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Silage making involving mechanized sila-wrapping of small round bales was introduced into Malaysia in 1991. This method of silage production, which involves mainly grasses, has been undertaken on three ruminant farms as well as on grazing reserves. However, regular production using this method is now primarily carried out on two farms, the Sheep Multiplication Centres in the states of Kedah and Trengganu, which normally suffer from drought during part of the year.

Fresh grass is cut using a mower conditioner and then baled to produce small round bales averaging about 30 kg each. These bales are then collected from the field and delivered to the storage shed where the sila-wrapping machine is located, wrapped mechanically and stored. In some cases, sila-wrapping and storage are done in the field.

Annually, about 500 bales of sila-wrapped silage, equivalent to 15 ton, have been produced to feed cattle and sheep during the dry season. In the first 8 months of 1999, a record 2000 sila-wrapped bales were produced. To date, about 290 ton of sila-wrapped silage has been produced.

Grasses used are Brachiaria humidicola, B. ruziziensis, B. decumbens, Panicum maximum and Setaria sphacelata cv Kazungula. CP determined in the silages produced ranges between 5% and 13.4% in the grasses cut between 21 days and 2 months maturity.

The sila-wrapping system is considered a very convenient means of silage production. However, the main problem is in the high cost of sila-wrap film, which has to be imported. Another problem is rats chewing through the sila-wrap film to get at the silage, and thus causing spoilage.


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