Willow Silage: An Alternative to Winter Fodder

This Potential Good Practice Note documents the practice of growing willow and ensiling willow twigs and leaves as an alternative winder fodder in the mountainous regions of Bhutan. The technique of silage making is simple, affordable, replicable and user friendly. This practice is undertaken with the objectives of promoting willow as a fodder crop and biomass ensiling techniques at farmers' level with the overall objective of addressing fodder shortages in winter.

The study has revealed that the milk production in cows fed on willow silage, has improved by 50% per animal per day and more and more livestock rearers are adopting this alternative fodder technology.

 

Author: Karna Bahadur Ghalley, Livestock Production Supervisor – I, Livestock Sector,
Thimphu Dzongkhag, Bhutan
To learn more about this practice open/download from the link below.

•  Potential Good Practice Note  2.5MB