Production and utilization of silages in tropical areas with focus on Brazil

• Published in: Grass and forage science 2019-06, Vol.74 (2), p.188-200
• Main Authors: Daniel, João Luiz Pratti, Bernardes, Thiago Fernandes, Jobim, Clóves Cabreira, Schmidt, Patrick, Nussio, Luiz Gustavo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural production; Beef; Brazil; Cattle; Contractors; Corn; Corn silage; Dairies; Dairy cattle; Dairy farming; Dairy farms; Environmental aspects; Factory farming; Feedlots; Food safety; Forage; forage conservation; Forage harvesters; Intensive farming; Pathogenicity; Pathogens; Preservation; Rainy season; Silage; Sorghum; South America; Tropical environments; warm climate
• ISSN: 0142-5242; 1365-2494
• DOI: 10.1111/gfs.12417

This manuscript brings an overview of the current challenges, advances and opportunities for silage production and utilization in tropical areas, with particular reference to Brazil and South America. Tropical crops have a high production potential during the rainy season; therefore, silage has a central role in feed preservation in the tropics. Use of silage all‐year round is expanding, since a significant number of dairy farmers are moving from grazing to housed systems, and the number of beef cattle finished in feedlots is increasing. Whole‐plant maize silage has been by far the main conserved forage in both dairy and beef operations, whereas the use of grain silages (maize and sorghum) is increasing. Recently, there has been great interest in snaplage (mainly comprised of maize kernels, cob and husk) due to the logistic benefits. Although pull‐type forage harvesters are still common in Brazilian dairies, the majority of beef feedlots use self‐propelled foragers by hiring custom services. Hence, the number of contractors with self‐propelled harvesters has significantly increased. The convenience of a secondary high‐quality forage in diets of dairy cows as well as the opportunity of including forage sources alternative to maize silage in rations for beef cattle warrants the resumption of research on tropical grass silages. Conservation of wet by‐products, environmental aspects of silage making and, especially, silage pathogenicity and food safety are also fields of research opportunity.