Silage from sweetpotato vines – proven benefits for livestock farmers and feed suppliers.

Making silage from sweetpotato vines can be a valuable source of feed for improved animal performance, as well as an opportunity for small-scale agribusinesses to earn revenue.

The potential for this practice, which involves preserving green foliage crops through a process of fermentation, is particularly strong in some sub-Saharan African countries, where rising household incomes and urbanization are driving increased demand for meat and dairy products.

Smallholder farmers, who are the backbone of the African livestock sector, face difficulties in sourcing a regular and affordable supply of nutritious fodder.

“Sweetpotato vines is high-quality feed rich in proteins, carbohydrates and vitamins and highly digestible by the animals.

It can be mixed with other feeds and used in compounded rations to improve feed quality.