Green fodder · हरा चारा
Green Fodder for Cows, 365 Days a Year
Fresh green fodder is the best feed a dairy animal can get — while it lasts. In India it runs short twice a year, and the country as a whole is short of green fodder by up to 32% (ICAR estimates). Corn silage is green maize fodder preserved at its peak by fermentation, so your animals keep eating green fodder in May, June and November too.
- Green maize, preserved at peak
- No daily cutting and carrying
- Same quality on day 1 and day 365
- Ready-to-feed bales
When green fodder runs out
Green fodder is plentiful in the monsoon, but scarcity peaks around May and November (CEEW), and in many areas March–June and October–November are lean months. Farmers then fall back on straw and concentrate, the diet becomes unbalanced and milk drops.
Green fodder in the scarcity months also costs far more to buy. Silage solves both problems: it is made when maize is abundant and fed when green fodder is scarce.
Silage vs fresh green fodder
- Fresh green fodder is excellent when you have it; silage is the closest thing to it the rest of the year.
- Silage keeps the nutrients of green fodder close to their original form and prevents seasonal waste.
- No 5 AM cutting, carrying and chopping: open the bale and feed.
- Consistency: the same feed every day, which the rumen — and the milk pail — like.
Which green fodder crop makes the best silage?
Maize (makka) is the first choice almost everywhere: high sugar for easy fermentation, energy from the grain and a large yield per acre. Jowar, bajra and oats are also ensiled. Legumes such as berseem and lucerne are rich in protein but hard to ferment alone, so they are best fed fresh or mixed with maize. Richnest bales are 100% whole-plant maize.
How much to feed in place of green fodder
Silage can replace all of the green fodder in the ration. Keep some dry fodder for long fibre:
| Animal | Silage / day | Dry fodder | Concentrate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milking cow / buffalo (400–450 kg) | 18–25 kg | 4–6 kg | 1 kg per 2.5 L milk |
| Dry / pregnant animal | 10–15 kg | 5–6 kg | 1–1.5 kg |
| Heifer (6–18 months) | 6–10 kg | 2–3 kg | 1 kg |
| Bull / gaushala adult | 12–18 kg | 5 kg | 0.5–1 kg |
| Goat / sheep | 1–3 kg | 0.5 kg | 200–300 g |
Frequently asked questions
Can silage replace green fodder completely?+
Yes, silage can replace all of the green fodder in the ration. Keep 4–6 kg of dry fodder per adult animal for long fibre, plus concentrate, mineral mixture and clean water.
Which is the best green fodder for cows?+
Fresh maize, jowar, bajra, oats and berseem are all good in season. For year-round green fodder, maize silage is the most practical because it stores for 12+ months when sealed.
Is silage better than fresh green fodder?+
Fresh green fodder is the best when you have it. Silage's strength is consistency: the same quality every day of the year, with no daily cutting.
How much green fodder does a cow need per day?+
A milking cow or buffalo of 400–450 kg needs 18–25 kg of corn silage a day as its green-fodder base, split into two feeds, with 4–6 kg dry fodder and concentrate as per milk.
Keep green fodder in the manger all year
Order corn silage bales before the next fodder gap. We reply with the delivered rate.