silage
SY-lij
/ˈsaɪ.lɪdʒ/
Grass or other green fodder compacted and stored in airtight conditions without first being dried, used as animal feed in the winter.
Refers specifically to fermented, high-moisture fodder, distinguishing it from dry hay.
The story behind the word. An English adaptation of the Spanish word silo, which itself comes from the Greek siros, meaning 'a pit or vessel for holding grain.' The suffix '-age' was added in the late 19th century to denote the collective preserved green fodder stored in these pits.
Word relationships
- fodder: Fodder is a general term for any livestock feed, while silage is specifically fermented, high-moisture fodder.
- hay: Hay is dried grass, whereas silage is preserved wet grass fermented in anaerobic conditions.
Commonly confused with
- forage: Forage is the act of searching for food or the plants animals graze on, while silage is harvested and fermented feed.
Word family
- ensile (verb): To convert green fodder into silage.
Collocations
- corn silage
- grass silage
- silage pit
- feed silage
Example sentences
- "Feeding cows high-quality silage ensures they maintain high milk yields even when fresh pasture is unavailable." A manual on winter feeding strategies for dairy herds.
Memory hook
Silage is stored in a 'silo' to age and ferment. Silage is fermented feed from the silo.
When not to use
Do not use to describe fresh pasture grass or dry straw/hay.
Fun facts
- The fermentation process of silage produces a sweet, slightly acidic smell, similar to beer or pickles, which cows find highly appetizing.
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