BSc Range Management and Animal Science students demonstrating their competence in quality silage making.
Silage is a moist, succulent feed produced through controlled fermentation of fresh forage stored under anaerobic conditions. 
The students used Tripsacum laxum (Guatemala grass) and maize bran to make quality silage. They employed plastic sheet techniques, recommended for small dairy farms due to their convenience in filling, packing, sealing, handling, and feeding out.
This method requires a small quantity of forage and demands less labor, making it ideal for small-scale farmers. Silage making using plastic sheets is also cost-effective.
To maintain anaerobic conditions, the students chopped Guatemala grass during harvesting, rapidly filled the plastic bags, adequately consolidated the forage, and sealed the sheets to prevent air re-entry. Exposure to oxygen leads to aerobic microbial activity, causing the material to decay into an inedible and toxic product.
Harvested Guatemala grass
Chopped Guatemala grass
Silage is uniformly distributed and consolidated
Properly sealed silage can be stored for years without significant change in composition, though most silage is used within a year. 
Silage, with its higher moisture content compared to hay, is more palatable and easier to digest for livestock. Economically and practically, silage is more labor-efficient than haymaking, poses a lower risk of spontaneous combustion, and produces less dust during feeding, benefiting both livestock and workers.
Farmers are encouraged to visit the Model Training Farm at the Dairy and Pasture Management unit for training on silage making or contact us for personalized training on the farm.
For inquiries, please contact:
Section Manager:
Name: Faridi Chamkatwa
Email: faridi.chamkatwa@sua.ac.tz
Mobile phone: +255-712-500-840
Veterinary Clinician:
Name: Winfred Ngilangwah
Email: winfred.ngilangwah@sua.ac.tz
Mobile phone: +255-764-505-418
For official communication, please contact:
Head of Department, Model Training Farm,
Sokoine University of Agriculture,
P.O. Box 3001, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro,
Mobile phone: +255753937587
Email: newtonk78@sua.ac.tz
CC: dmtf@sua.ac.tz
