Prof. Robin Meeske, the silage guy!

by Dr Chris de Brouwer, chrisdb@elsenburg.com

SSilage can be made from a range of crops and forages, the most popular being maize. Silage crops are harvested at a stage of development that optimises both yield and quality in terms of nutritional composition. The feed is preserved in a very palatable form for an extended period, which can potentially span years. Silage has wide applications in dairy, beef (feedlots) and small stock production systems and can form an integral part of the fodder flow in farming systems. Prof. Robin Meeske, specialist scientist in the Directorate Animal Sciences of the Research and Technology Development programme, has been working for the Western Cape Department of Agriculture since 1995, a career spanning 25 years. He has been the lead animal science researcher at the Outeniqua research farm near George where research into pasturebased milk production is conducted with a herd of jersey cows. Before working for the department, he participated in silage research that formed the basis of his postgraduate studies. He has achieved national recognition for his knowledge in the field of silage manufacturing and use. Because of the excellence of his work he was invited to be a permanent member of the National Silage Evaluation Committee that assesses silage across the country every year. In that capacity he presents the findings of the evaluation annually and gives input for improving silage quality as it forms the basis of many dairy (and feedlot) diets. Prof. Meeske is highly regarded and is mentioned in a recently published list of international silage influencers. He is the only South African on this list at present.