By Victoria Nampala Bugembe
In crisis times of heavy rains and dry spells, farmers suffer because their animals lack what to eat due to the weather conditions that do not permit them to graze.
Jairus Nyongesa, the manager of Aryali Farm says, this is when the silage bag comes to the rescue if the farmer is well prepared and the animals cannot be affected in any way.
“Silage bags are large plastic tubes designed for the storage and fermentation of fodder into silage,” he says.
By preserving the fodder’s high dry matter content, silage encourages livestock to consume more water, which boosts their overall production.
These bags offer a convenient and cost-effective solution for feed preservation, with the ability to store fodder for up to three years.
One of the key advantages of silage bags is the improved feed management they offer. Farmers can easily monitor and control feed consumption on a daily or weekly basis, something that is often challenging with other silaging methods.
Annuali Kitimbo, a diary farmer adds that silage bags extend the preservation period of fodder since only one bag is opened at a time.
“The grass is very nutritious and it does not lose any food value but its moisture content is low, ideally less than 15%,” she says.
This method contrasts with pit or ground silaging, where frequent exposure increases the risk of spoilage and mold growth which is not good for the animals.
Nyongesa adds that a good silage bag must be protective from rodents with 600-gauge plastic, with a capacity of 600 kg. These durable bags can be reused for up to eight years, effectively preventing silage loss due to spoilage or rodent damage.
Cons of silage bags
“There is a reduction of feed waste at the farm through spoilage and a reduced need for additional feed production in a given time,” she says.
Nyongesa adds that silage bags reduce the need for frequent harvesting and transportation of feeds and maintain the quality of silage for more than three years in a safe place.
Pros of silage bags
Since silage bags are made from plastics, they contribute to environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions during the production and usage periods.
Once a silage bag is disposed of after use, it pollutes the environment most, especially if it is burnt and not recycled.
LEAD PHOTO CAPTION: A silage bag kept for safety in preparation for the dry or rainy season when the farmer cannot find animal feed. Photo by Victoria Nampala Bugembe
