Perceptions and practices of silage quality in India focusing on volatile metabolites

A total of 140 silage stakeholders including entrepreneurs, dairy farmers, and representatives from dairy industries participated in a pan-India survey covering nine key states. The objective was to identify specific challenges, current practices, and opportunities for improving silage production. The study also aimed to assess perceptions and practices related to silage quality, with a particular focus on volatile metabolites. The questionnaire comprised 53 questions divided into five sections: personal details (6), silage production and quality (26), silage smell and volatiles (10), production challenges (10), and open-ended suggestions. It included various formats such as multiple choice, frequency scales, single-word, and open-ended responses. The topics covered included silage sources, crop types, production issues, effects of silage odor on animal health and intake, and strategies to reduce unpleasant smells etc. The survey identified the dairy sector as the main silage consumer (91.3%). To ensile, maize was the dominant crop (75–80%), followed by sorghum and grasses. The key feeding issues such as reduced conception, mastitis, delayed lactation, and altered milk taste are often linked to spoiled silage due to poor fermentation and generation of harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like butyric acid, aldehydes and ketones. Smell was the top-quality indicator of silage (87.5%), followed by appearance (62.5%) and texture (58.3%). 90% of animals exhibited reduced feed intake in response to silage with an unpleasant odor, indicative of spoilage, an issue that contributes to a decline in its market value. These findings emphasized the need to manage fermentation to boost beneficial metabolites and control VOCs. Focused research on silage metabolite profiles along with key nutritional indicators (pH, lactic acid) is essential to improve overall silage quality and its impact on animal health.