Whole crop cereal and legume silages

However, this effect is not due to the dry matter content alone, since low dry matter silages made from clover and lucerne have higher dry matter intake characteristics than grass silages of the same dry matter content. Dry matter intake is also related to nutrient requirements, with working horses showing higher intakes than those at maintenance. 

Silage is the material produced by controlled fermentation of a crop of high moisture content. Ensilage is the name given to the process. 

Ensilage is succesful if the activities of undesirable organisms and the production of objectionable fermentation products are minimised, which is achieved by encouraging the growth of lactic acid bacteria, which lower the pH of the mass. 

Stability of the preserved mass is maintained by compaction and by efficient sealing of the silo. 

In recent years, preservation in big bales has increased greatly at the expense of the more common bunker silo. 

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