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Introduction to Fodder Conservation

Fodder is food eaten by farm livestock (in relatively unprocessed form, i.e. not pellets). Conserving is to save. Therefore fodder conservation is the saving of fodder for later use. Two main ways to conserve fodder are by drying and by pickling. Fodder can be stored for years if stored/conserved correctly.

Why Conserve Fodder

Often fodder is conserved as there is excess pasture. This pasture is conserved (stored away) to be used when it is needed. These times include during the winter time when pasture does not grow as well leading to a "feed gap". Other times when there may be a feed shortage is during climatic disasters such as during drought or after bushfires. Conserving fodder converts otherwise useless and wasted pasture into food for such needy times. Another application of conserving fodder is for specialised fodder conservation enterprises which sell their conserved pasture to others who may breed livestock etc..

Types

of Conserved Fodder

There are three main types of conserved fodder: Silage Hay Grain

Silage
Silage is preserving excess pasture by fermenting it, similar to pickling food. The high lactic acid from ensiling prevents growth of many decay microbes.

Hay
Hay is preserving excess pasture by drying it. It works because the dry conditions prevent the growth of many decay causing microbes.

Grain
Grain is preserving the grains on grassy plants (such as wheat or oats) by drying it and storing. It works because the dry conditions prevent the growth of many decay causing microbes.

Silage
Silage is preserving pasture or plant material by fermenting it. This is a process akin to pickling.

Plants Used for Silage

Plants used for silage tend to be leafy. Main silage plants are: Maize - high grain content but cannot be grazed and high nitrogen requirements Sweet Sorghum - tolerates dry climates, good leaf production and can be grazed Lucerne - leafy, high protein Mixed Pasture - often grown for other purposes, can be used when in excess These varieties are high in energy content.

Process
Cutting
First the materials which are to be used for silage production are cut or harvested. Forage which has been finely cut (1-2 cm) compacts better and thus ensiles better.

Drying
Then they are dried to 60-70% moisture content. This can take half to one day.

Location and Removing Air

The dried plant material is then placed somewhere airtight to begin fermentation. The location where ensiling occurs can be a 'Silobag' (polyurethane, airtight bags), silage heaps (heaps of silage material about 1.5m high, covered with tarpaulin weighed down often with tires), silage pits (similar

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to heaps except in a pit), tower silos (silo used for silage, can store up to 340 tonnes) and round bale silage (bales of silage wrapped in airtight plastic). Often to remove air from the silage material tractors are driven over the silage material. Removing air (and oxygen) is essential for anaerobic fermentation. The lack of oxygen prevents the survival of decay causing organisms such as fungi and bacteria.

Ensiling
During ensiling, bacteria in the fodder begin anaerobic respiration (as there is no oxygen) which is also known as fermentation. They produce lactic acid which also eventually kills the bacteria. After this there is no bacteria or fungi to deteriorate the fodder. Silage can be stored in this state for many years until the ensiling vessel is opened.

Opening
When the ensiling vessel is opened, decay will begin again and the silage will need to be eaten quickly. This is why silage is almost always made on farms where they are to be used and cannot be transported easily.

Hay
Hay is dried pasture which is often then baled and stored.

Plants Used for Haymaking

Pasture is used in haymaking including: Lucerne - highly nutritious, protein rich and "tasty", most common grown hay variety General Pasture or Meadow - often used when there is excess These varieties are often a good source of energy and protein

Process
Cutting
The pasture is harvested or cut. This must be done during fine weather to prevent leaching or nutrients.

Drying
The plant material is then let to dry (usually in the paddock) to around 15-20% moisture content. It is turned occasionally and can be conditioned (having their stems crushed lightly with rubber rollers) with a mower conditioner for faster, more even drying.

Baling
The pasture is then pressed into bales and stored in a hay shed, where it is kept dry. Small rectangular bales can be around 25 kg whilst large rectangular cylindrical bales can be up to 2 tonnes.

Moisture Content
Moisture content should be roughly 15-20%. If too moist, it can lead to overheating which destroys protein and can cause fire. It too dry, leaves, the most valuable part of the hay, can be lost.

Grain
Grain is the dried seeds of grassy plants.

Plants Used for Grain Production

Plants in the grass family are almost exclusively used for grain production. These include: Wheat - often there is a lot of excess lower quality wheat which is used for animal feed, grown and harvested in summer Oats - tolerant of soils and climate, resistant to weevil damage, can be grazed in winter Barley - very tolerant and dependable of many unfavourable conditions Other varieties include triticale, maize and sorghum. They are high in food value.

Process
Harvest
Harvest occurs when the seed has matured and dried to a moisture content of 12% or less.

Storage
Grain is stored in vermin-proof steel silos (vermin are unwanted pests). It is often treated with a special insecticide to prevent attack from grain eating insects like weevils. Grain can be stored for many years with little quality loss provided it is kept dry and pest free.

Technology
Technology is very useful for fodder conservation as it allows jobs to be completed faster, easier and with less labour than in the past. Below are a few applications of technology in fodder conservation.

Harvesting Pasture (Hay and Silage)

Machines can be used to cut pasture such as mowers.

Conditions Pasture (Hay)

In hay manufacture, pasture is often conditioned (lightly pressed with rubber rollers to crush stems) to allow it to dry faster and more evenly. Such machines include conditioners and mower conditioners (which cut and condition pasture).

Turning Machines (Hay)

Often cut pasture is turned during drying with machines such as rotary rake and tedders which turn and separate hay.

Forage Choppers (Silage)

Forage (plant material) is often cut for silage to make compression better. Machines such as Flail Foragers and Precision Choppers do this job.

Silage Wrappers (Silage)

Machines are sometimes used to wrap silage bales such as round bale silage wrappers.

Silos (Silage and Grain)

Silos are used to store silage and grain. Often for grain storage they are steel and vermin-proof.

Silobags (Silage)
Used to store silage, these are polyurethane airtight bags which are used to store silage.

Silage Inoculants (Silage)

Inoculants contain a large amount of bacteria which form lactic acid. It is sprayed during baling, cutting or in the storage vessel. An example is Ecosyl.

Harvesting Grain (Grain)

Machines like combine harvesters harvest grain. A combine harvester combines three steps into one. The first step is reaping which is cutting and gathering the crops. Binding is the next step followed by threshing which involves removing the grain from its outer shell.

Feeding (Hay, Silage and Grain)

Many different machines are used in feeding conserved fodder including mechanical grabs for silage and round/square bale handlers which handle hay bales.

At School
At school we use machinery such as sod seeders (sows oats), hay rakes and hay balers.

Safety
The rules below should be observed: Do not walk on or play in grain (except for specific purposes) as suffocation can occur if grain collapses. Silos are confined places which can accumulate life-threatening gases as well as be very deficient in oxygen. Insecticides, fumigants and other poisons may have been used to treat grain and can kill. Enter a silo from the bottom so if you are overcome you may fall into clean air. Avoid climbing a silo. Check around for overhead power lines and avoid contact with the auger (drill used when delivering grain to or from the silo) and always ensure the auger "flight" is empty and lowered before moving it around the farm as it can overbalance and cause a fatal accident.