Silage production: NAPRI targets 275 tonnes this year
. The yield is over 500% higher than last year's harvestThe National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI) is expected to conserve two hundred and seventy five (275) tonnes of forage during this year’s silage making.
The expected yield is over 500 percent higher than last year’s production of 52 tonnes only.
This year’s annual silage making, which commenced on 20th October, 2025, is expected to be completed tomorrow (Tuesday, 18th November, 2025).
The institute this year planted 13 bags of maize seeds on 20 hectares of farmland for silage production to complement ruminants feed of the institute.
The other inputs used for the exercise included 200kg of lab-lab, 2,950kg NPK, 2,450kg urea, 75 litre gramaxone, and 76 litre round-up.
The bumper harvest was recorded despite the obvious challenges such as mechanical failures, late silage planting and harvesting, and the lack of adequate provision of production clothing.
Other challenges included the lack of provision of input such as fertilizer, herbicide and seeds at the appropriate time, as well as overgrazing due to fence line vandalisation.
NAPRI Deputy Director, Dr Muhammad Said Tanko, who spoke on the development, expressed satisfaction with this year’s silage production.
The institute’s Forage Production Unit, according to him, was set up to produce and conserve forage for the feeding of the institute ruminant animals and sell the excess to other livestock farmers.
Dr Tanko said the unit had over 125 hectares of land which were being used for cultivation of both grasses and legumes for hay and silage conservation.
The Deputy Director also explained that the unit was created to produce about 30,000 bales of hay and 300 tonnes of silage annually.
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Public Affairs Directorate,
Office of the Vice-Chancellor,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (NAM)
Monday, 17th November, 2025
