Silage-making and its influence on cattle production at the University of Ibadan

Abstract

In order to resuscitate milk production at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, sixty-eight zebu heifers and four in-calf Jersey cows were procured between April and September 2012. However, inadequate land for grazing and the need to provide extra forage for these animals made regular silage production imperative. From June 2012 till August 2013, silage formed a regular part of the daily ration for cattle on the Dairy Farm, University of Ibadan. On the average, zebu heifers received about 40-50% of their daily forage allowance from pasture and 50-60% from silage. Jersey cows on the other hand received about 30% of their forage allowance from pasture and 70% from silage. Silage offered to cattle on the farm was a composite of elephant grass, cassava peel and brewer’s spent grain or poultry litter. Sometimes, composite silage of legume, moringa leaf and cassava peel was also offered. Dry matter intake (DMI) of zebu heifers increased from 2.7 to 5.6 kg/day (2 – 3.8 % of bodyweight, BW, respectively) when silage was introduced while average DMI of Jersey cows was 12 kg/day (3.6 % BW). Growth rate of zebu heifers varied from 0.4 – 0.8 kg/day with the upper limit of this range obtained when silage formed a regular part of their daily diet. Average daily milk yield of Jersey cows fed silage was 10.2 kg/day while lactation yield was 2353 kg. These observations indicate that the use of composite silage as part of daily ration for zebu and Jersey cattle enhanced the productivity of these animals in Ibadan.