Forage and silage

Forage and silage have become increasingly important as feed and energy sources in recent years due to their wide range of uses. Information on the nutrient content of feedstuffs is crucial in order to be able to provide farm animals with optimal care. Different needs depending on the type of husbandry, as well as the constantly changing quality of raw materials, require regular adaptation of feeding and the associated nutrient control. Particular focus is placed on seasonally changing conditions and the availability of fresh green fodder, dry fodder, or silage.

The preservation of the green fodder produced can, in principle, be done by drying it into hay or by ensiling it, i.e., by lactic acid fermentation into silage. The quality of grass silage depends on production factors such as the time of cutting and growth conditions. The time of cutting and the resulting degree of ripeness of the grasses determine their later use as livestock feed since the availability of proteins and carbohydrates, among other things, changes due to increasing lignin storage. Silage also serves as an energy-rich substrate in biogas plants. Maize silage is often used because maize enables a high yield of dry matter per area. In addition, maize silage provides a higher gas yield during fermentation