Ruohosäilöä

Ruohosäilöä refers to a specific type of silage, a fodder produced by preserving green forage through anaerobic fermentation. In Finnish, "ruohosäilöä" directly translates to "grass silage," indicating that the primary material used is grass. This method is widely employed in agriculture to store grass and other green crops for later use as animal feed, particularly for livestock such as cattle, sheep, and horses.

The process of creating ruohosäilöä involves harvesting the grass at an optimal stage of growth, often when it is rich in nutrients and sugars. This harvested material is then chopped into smaller pieces to increase surface area and facilitate fermentation. It is crucial to exclude air as much as possible during the storage phase. This is typically achieved by compacting the grass tightly in a silo, bunker, or plastic wrap.

Once packed, the ensiled grass undergoes fermentation, driven by lactic acid bacteria naturally present in the forage. These bacteria convert sugars into lactic acid and other organic acids. This acidic environment inhibits the growth of spoilage microorganisms, preserving the grass and its nutritional value. The resulting ruohosäilöä is a palatable and digestible feed source that can be stored for extended periods, often several months to over a year, providing a consistent food supply for animals outside of the growing season. The quality of ruohosäilöä is influenced by factors such as the type of grass, moisture content, wilting time, and effective sealing.