In order to overcome the shortage of green fodder required for milch animals during summer, the Karimnagar Milk Producer Company Limited albeit Karimnagar Dairy, has embarked on an ambitious and first of its kind task of preparation of corn silage on its premises.
The dairy has taken up the making of corn silage on its premises on an experimental basis for the first time. Accordingly, it cultivated maize in four acres of land. Later, it will be cut into pieces and mixed with salt, jaggery, di-calcium phosphate and lactic acid bacillus to be stored in layers in a bunker.
The authorities have constructed a special bunker to store the corn silage in air-tight polythene sheets to protect it from rain and hailstorm. The corn silage, after storing in the bunker, would be removed only after two months so that the nutritional fodder is ready for milch animals. After fermentation, the fodder would turn golden yellow and would have high nutritional value.
This corn silage will be used for milch animals only during summer when it is difficult for farmers to obtain green fodder. “Our corn silage is only an experimental process and we have taken the initiative to tell milk-producing farmers about the importance of corn silage during summer when there is acute shortage of green fodder, said Ch Rajeshwara Rao, Karimnagar dairy chairman.
He said that the corn silage preparation would have more benefits for milk-producing farmers to supply green fodder during summer and would help increase milk production. We also want to encourage other farmers to take up corn silage cultivation for increasing milk production, he said, adding that they were also exploring the avenues of government subsidy for taking up preparation of corn silage.
