Produção e uso de silagens em fazendas leiteiras em três mesorregiões do Estado de Minas Gerais

Abstract

Dairies from three zones (Central, Centro-oeste and Campos das Vertentes) of Minas Gerais state, Brazil, were invited to participate in current survey on silage management practices on their farms. Thirty-nine dairies filled a questionnaire on a special day organized for dairy producers in Ijaci, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The twentytwo questions of the questionnaire comprised information on characteristics of herds on farms (n=3), characteristics inherent to silage process (n=9), characteristics associated with feed-out (n=4), characteristics inherent to silage used in diet (n=3) and three other questions. Corn silage was mentioned by most of the 39 producers interviewed. Thirty-eight (97.4%) stated that corn was used alone or with other crops. Most producers (92.3%) used pull-type forage harvesters and black-on-white plastic sheets were mentioned by 84.6% of producers to seal the silos. Further, 61.5% of dairies unloaded less than 20 cm of silage per day and 87.2% discarded spoiled silage prior to feeding the animals, although 92.3% failed to undertake any chemical analysis of silage produced. The use of simple management techniques such as the correct feed-out rate, type of plastic sheets used to cover the silos, and the material used to weigh down the silo surfaces are still impairments in obtaining less deteriorated silages with the least possible waste rates.