Fodder For Goats
Under Stall Fed Conditions
If the goats are completely stall-fed they should be given around 3-4 kg of green fodder, 1-2 kg of dry fodder and 200 -250 grams of ready made seeds as concentrates. If the goats are partly stall-fed and partly free range then 50 per cent of the above quantities should be fed in the stall. Kids should be allowed to suckle in the beginning so that they get enough colostrum, which is necessary for natural immunity. After 10-12 days supplementary special kid ration can be given but milk feeding should continue up to 2.5 to 3.0 months of age. Simultaneously, kids should be given very succulent green fodder like maize and lucern. Adult goats should be given green leaves of shrubs like Anjan, Subabhul, Babulbeans, Shevari, and Pangara.
MAKING OF SILAGE
(Preservation of Green Forage Crop) Silage is the feedstuff resulting from the preservation of green forage crops by acidification. The first phase is the aerobic phase, which occurs in the presence of oxygen (air). The oxygen that is present in the forage, as it is placed into storage, is consumed by the plant material through the process of respiration. Under aerobic conditions, plant enzymes and microorganisms consume oxygen and burn up plant water-soluble carbohydrates (sugars), producing carbon dioxide and heat. The first phase should be as brief as possible to maintain the quality of the silage. Excessive aerobic fermentation reduces the energy content of the silage and may cause heat damage to proteins.
The second anaerobic phase begins when available oxygen is used up by respiration and aerobic bacteria cease to function. Anaerobic bacteria begin to multiply and the fermentation process begins. The lactobacilli produce lactic acid from the fermented plant material which lowers the pH of the silage. Fermentation completely ceases after three to four weeks when the pH becomes so low that all microbial growth is inhibited.
The ensiling and storage system's main functions are to exclude air during the ensiling process and to prevent air from entering the silage during storage.
Limiting air present in the silage will enhance feed quality and reduce spoilage.
SILO TYPES
Horizontal Silos
There are two types of horizontal silos - below ground level (i.e., pit or trench) and above ground (i.e. bunker and stack). The main advantage of hori zontal silos is their low capital cost and suitability to feeding livestock in widely separated pens.
Trench Silos
Are usually dug into a slope with the "downhill" end open for drainage and access.
Bunker Silos
Are used in flat areas unsuitable for trench silos. Above-ground walls are constructed using concrete, earth or wood and braced with timbers or concrete buttresses.
The correct height and width to make a silo depends on daily silage usage based on the removal of a minimum of 10 cm (4 in.) per day from the silage face. Removing less silage leads to spoilage or freezing problems. The silo should be as high as possible to minimize silo width, thereby minimizing surface spoilage. Increased silage height aids in packing.
- Silo Length depends on the total silage needed annually.
- Capacities are dependent on average densities of silage. Silage density increases with increasing moisture content, shorter cut length packed silage depth and amount of packing.
DETERMINING MOISTURE CONTENT OF FORAGE
a) Using a Microwave Oven
- 1. Cut a representative cross-section of forage from the windrow.
- 2. Cut into 0.6 cm (1/4 in.) pieces.
- 3. Weigh 100 grams of material and place on a paper plate or bag.
- 6. Stir sample and place in microwave oven on high heat for one minute. Reweigh and record weight.
- 7. Repeat step six until weight loss is less than one gram. This is the dry weight.
b) by Hand Method
| Forage squeezed in hand | Moisture % | ||
| Water easily squeezed out and material holds shape | 80+ | ||
| Water can just be squeezed out and material holds shape | 75-80 | ||
| Little or no water can be squeezed out but material holds shape | 70-75 | ||
| No water can be squeezed out and material falls apart slowly | 60-70 | ||
| No water can be squeezed out and material falls apart rapidly | 60 or less | ||