Feedback: The A-Z of silage making and why you need agric. experts

THE A-Z OF MAKING SILAGE

I am interested in making silage for my two cows. I need to know about silage making, price of molasses, how much is it needed in an acre of maize, how long does a quality silage needs to take for it to be ready for consumption, how long can it serve me in feeding the cows, and is it possible for silage to be removed from the pit after it is ready to be stored in a different form?

Silage making is simple depending on the type of silo you intend to use. Assuming you want to prepare silage in a pit, first dig a pit then spread plastic polythene on the floors and walls.

After harvesting your maize fodder at the right stage, chop them to about one inch lengths then spread into the pit to about 15cm high.

Since you choose to use molasses, mix it with water at a ratio of 1:2 or 1:3. Molasses retails between Sh500 - Sh600 per 20 litres depending on where you buy.

Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the spread chopped maize fodder as you compact to remove as much air as possible.

Continue adding chopped fodder, the mixture of molasses and water while compacting to remove air until the pit gets filled to a dome shape. Cover the top of the pit to prevent water from running into the silage.

Finally cover with soil paying attention to the edges. Safe bio-additives such as Ecosyl have been used to make silage especially by farmers around Meru region.

Silage will be ready for feeding to cows in 30 to 40 days. To feed, open the pit and remove silage enough for feeding each day then cover again to reduce air getting in.

You can download a free summary factsheet on silage making from our website www.dairycloud.co.ke. A cow will consume about three per cent of silage on dry matter basis, therefore feeding also varies if silage is the only meal or if mixed with other fodder.

To help you plan further, write to us on [email protected] to give you a details on how much silage will be enough to last your herd for a given period of time and so much more.

Felix Akatch Opinya, Department of Animal Science, Egerton University

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SEEKING AGRICULTURE CONSULTANTS

Thank you for all the articles that you share with us. It really inspires me to see the great things people are doing in farming and I want to do more in farming and inspire more upcoming farmers.

One of your recent issue was about agribusiness consultants who share best practices in farming I was hoping to find some agribusiness consultants to take my farming to the next level from small scale to large scale.

If it is possible would you connect with some agricultural consultants around Kitengela-Isinya area?
Wilfred

Thank you for your continued readership of Seeds of Gold magazine. On June 10 issue, stories were ran on agribusiness specialists/consultants from our university.

Apart from offering advice in agribusiness related issues, we also own actual agri-enterprise firms giving us have a wealth of experience in agribusiness matters.

We are experts in business plan development, business modelling, capacity assessment and enhancement for firms, baseline surveys, agribusiness clinics and also short courses in entrepreneurship and business plan development.

Kindly send me an email to [email protected] for further discussion on possible areas of collaboration or for any other query.

Dickson Otieno, Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Management, Egerton University

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WHY YOU MUST FEED COWS WITH NAPIER

I’ve read the article “Why you must feed cows more than napier grass” from Egerton.

I’d like to ask if you know some dairy farms who need large amount of napier grass because we do supply napier grass, we have 5,000 hectares.

Elvin Loresca

Napier grass can be a good feeding option if harvested at the right stage and supplemented with protein roughage sources.

One option of preserving Napier grass if grown commercially with no immediate consumer is ensiling.

Most of farmers who get in touch are in search of Boma Rhodes hay, but occasionally we get inquiries for other fodder options. Kindly right to us on [email protected] to connect you with the market.

Felix Akatch Opinya, Department of Animal Science, Egerton University

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CAN GINGER GROW IN COLD AREAS?

Can ginger grow in cold areas? I would like to try. Kindly advice.
Thanks. Law Macke

Ginger can do well in a wide range of environmental conditions. It does well in tropical climates with heavy rains followed by a dry period.

Soil should be well drained, fertile, with a pH of 4.5 to 6.5 and free from pests and diseases.

Carol Mutua, Department of Crops, Horticulture and Soils, Egerton University

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LETTUCE DEVELOPED BITTER TASTE

I live in upper highlands of Nyeri. Sometime ago I grew lettuce on a small plot of mine.

The plants did well and were big enough compared to those they sale in supermarkets but unfortunately they were not edible, they had a bitter taste which no one could contain.

What could be problem? Is that they don’t like red soils?

Simon Thuo

Lettuce becomes bitter if grown in hot dry weather or when the temperatures are above 290C.

Carol Mutua, Department of Crops, Horticulture and Soils, Egerton University

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BEST ONION TO GROW IN MAI-MAHIU

Which onion is best to grow in Mai Mahiu and when is the best time to grow the onion seedlings to fetch good profits.

Martin Kamau

Red Creole, Red Bombay, Red Pinnoy can all do well in Mai Mahiu.

Carol Mutua, Department of Crops, Horticulture and Soils, Egerton University

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THINGS TO PONDER BEFORE FARMING

My family has been farming in Karatina for a long time. A new generation has now taken over and we would like to obtain maximum yields from the farm.

We are farming on 2.5 acres with focus on dairy farming (four cows - two grown and two calves), planting Napier grass, maize, collards and potatoes.

Our desire is to focus on dairy farming. We plan to invest on the following:

1. Additional two grade cows (in-calf) in 2017.
2. Water harvesting: County water is not very consistent hence unreliable. We may have to purchase.
3. A water pump and pipes for drawing water from a nearby water stream and water tanks for storing the water,
 4. AI for the current cows

Our objective is to have a thriving dairy farm that is self-financing. 

1. Should we do crop farming which may be cheaper in the short run to finance dairy farming?
Investing in dairy farming requires intensive capital especially if you want to invest to a scale we understand you do. If finance as a resource doesn’t allow you now, then you can do crop farming in order to raise funds hoping it does well. You may also explore other ways of raising funds like borrowing from Agricultural Financial Corporations or even bank!

2. If the answer to the above question is yes, which crops are best suited for the area that can have potential for high returns? What kind of investment will be required to achieve this?
There are a number of crops that can be grown depending on the season and market targeted. Short season horticultural or vegetable crops that are high marketable such as tomatoes, carrots, cabbages and legumes varieties such as other peas, beans and doricus (njahi) can be planted with a target of Nairobi and Nyeri as markets.

3. If we go ahead with dairy farming, we require help with strategising/planning. I seek your guidance on how best we can utilise the farm to achieve our objectives. 

DW, Nairobi

The best strategy in dairy production is to establish a target level of production and securing a milk market, possible with you joining an existing dairy cooperative society, starting a milk bar or securing a market deal with processors directly.

Now that you are already started, development of a strategic plan will require that we pay your farm a visit.

As DairyCloud, we will do you a basic farm assessment based on codes of standard dairy practices and give your practicable recommendations to help you upscale your dairy investment.

Reach us on 0719125722.

Felix Akatch Opinya and Musyoka Duncan, Department of Animal Science, Egerton University