SOLOMON MENGISTU
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Standards of hay Hays from sown pasture Standards or grades of hay are generally based upon the percent of leafiness (in legumes), percent green color, percent foreign material, maturity or ripeness when cut, size and pliability of the stems, and general condition. Hays from natural pasture Three broad standards (grades) of hay are recognized based upon legume composition and quality of processing (curing) the hay. Excellent hay Excellent hay is cured forage, which includes a mixture containing a large amount of legumes and some grasses which are cut at an early, immature stage shortly after the legumes begin to bloom (1/8– 1/4 of the plants in bloom) or shortly after the grasses form a head. For hay to be excellent quality, it must not be exposed to weather damage of any type, including sunlight for more than one or two days. Good hay Good hay would be cured forage which contains smaller amounts of legumes and more grasses than an excellent forage and is cut at a slightly later stage of maturity (about ½ of the plants in bloom). For hay to be rated as good quality, it must have little or no weather damage. Fair-to-poor hay Fair-to-poor hay is that which is mature at harvest (most of the plants in bloom); contains little or no legumes, and is exposed to some but not excessive, weather damage.
Silage Silage is moist forage that is the product of acid fermentation of green forage crops that have been compressed and stored under anaerobic conditions in a container called a silo. A point of precaution in silage making is that it is not economically justified nor is there a special advantage to be gained in terms of animal nutrition by ensiling forages as long as the weather allows making good quality hay. However, there are certain advantages of silage which still do not rule out other cheap methods of forage conservation: Advantages
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Where the production of high quality hay is not possible due to weather conditions. Silage saves feed that would be inedible in the dry state or would be damaged by rains. It is quite palatable and has a high content of carotene. It clears the ground early and completely for another crop. Storing a crop as silage instead of hay eliminates the hazard of fire.
Ethiopia Sheep and Goat Productivity Improvement Program