Fermented feed

　　Straw with high moisture and sugar content is an excellent feed material, especially corn stalks and wheat stalks.

　　Fermenting straw feed involves the following steps (using silage as an example):

　　1. Grasp the harvesting time: The corn stalks for silage production should not be harvested too early or too late. Harvesting too early results in high moisture and low sugar content in the stalks, leading to poor fermentation; harvesting too late results in moisture and nutrient loss, making the silage less palatable. Generally, densely planted silage corn is harvested during the milk-ripe stage, leguminous plants in the early flowering stage, gramineous grasses in the heading stage, and sweet potato vines before frost.

　　2. Rapid transportation: After harvesting, corn stalks should be transported to the silage site immediately to prevent prolonged time causing moisture evaporation, cellular respiration, and material oxidation, leading to nutrient loss.

　　3. Appropriate material length: Generally, the raw materials are cut into 2-3 centimeters to facilitate compaction, compression, and exhaust during silo filling, ensuring even settling and minimal nutrient loss. In addition, the cut plant tissues can exude a large amount of juice, which is conducive to lactic acid bacteria growth and accelerates the ensiling process.

　　4. Spreading and silo filling: 1 kg of fermentation agent is used for 5 tons of silage material. Dilute the silage fermentation aid with rice bran (wheat bran or corn flour) at a ratio of approximately 1:10, spray water, and adjust the moisture content of the material to 60-70%, then set aside. The method to judge whether the moisture content is appropriate: Grab a handful of material, if you see water marks but no dripping, and it can be spread out when dropped, then it is appropriate. Adjust the moisture content of the silage raw materials to 60-70%, then start filling the silo, compacting as you fill, spreading the fermentation agent while filling, compacting every 30 centimeters, especially compacting the edges as much as possible, and filling the entire silo at once.

　　5. Covering with grass and soil: The filling amount should be 30 centimeters higher than the edge to prevent the silage from settling. Surround with wooden boards, etc. After settling for 2-3 days, remove the wooden boards, cover with a layer of grass cut to 5-10 centimeters, about 20 centimeters thick, then cover with soil and compact it. The thickness of the soil cover is 60 centimeters, forming a bun shape, flattening the surface, and digging drainage ditches around the silo. In the first few days, check regularly and repair any cracks in the soil cover in a timely manner. When using plastic film for silage production, other steps are the same as general silage, but attention should be paid to pressing the soil or other heavy objects after covering the plastic film, and the film should be strictly sealed to prevent air leakage.

　　Generally, silage can be fed after about 40 days of fermentation. It should be taken vertically from top to bottom in layers, about 10 centimeters each time, and sealed after taking. Initially, cattle and sheep may not be used to it and may not like to eat it. After a period of trial feeding and adjustment, cattle and sheep will get used to it and then normal feeding can be carried out.