Rain and humidity are the biggest enemies of stored feed. These simple storage habits protect your feed from moisture, fungus and pests through the rainy season.
Key Takeaways
- Store bags on pallets, away from walls, in a dry and airy room.
- Buy stock for 2 – 3 weeks at a time during the monsoon.
- Never feed mouldy or caked feed – it can make animals seriously ill.
In this article
The monsoon brings relief from the heat, but it also brings humidity – and humidity is the biggest enemy of stored cattle feed. Damp feed can grow fungus that produces harmful toxins (aflatoxins). These reduce milk yield, harm the liver and can even pass into milk. The good news: a few simple habits keep your feed safe.
How to spot spoiled feed
- A musty, sour or stale smell instead of a fresh, grainy smell
- Lumps or caking that do not break apart easily
- White, green or black patches of mould
- Insects, weevils or signs of rats
- Animals refusing to eat feed they normally enjoy
Storage checklist for the rainy season
- Raise it up – keep bags on wooden pallets or a raised platform, at least 6 inches above the floor.
- Keep a gap – leave space between bags and walls so damp walls do not touch the feed.
- Cover the roof leaks – check the store room before the rains start.
- Let air flow – a dry, airy room is better than a closed, damp one. Open windows on dry days.
- Close opened bags – fold and tie the mouth of opened bags after every use.
- First in, first out – use older bags first.
Buy smart during the monsoon
Buying a large stock to save a trip can backfire in the rainy season. Buy feed for 2 – 3 weeks at a time, and check the packing date on the bag. Pellet feeds such as Uttam Pellet are pressed and less dusty, so they generally hold up better in humid weather than loose mash.
Keep the feeding area clean too
Wet leftover feed in troughs turns sour within hours. Clean troughs daily, give only as much as the animal will finish, and keep the shed floor dry. This also reduces flies and hoof problems that are common during the monsoon.
