Corn silage which has great nutritive value is the principal fodder for cattle and goats. . Under the assistance of the Council of Agriculture, the quality of domestic corn silage has been greatly improved. Besides supplying to the domestic dairy industry needs, up to 4,300 tons of Taiwan’s corn silage are exported to Japan annually.

According to the Council of Agriculture, corn soilage is known as the king fodders because of its nutritive value and universal usefulness. The Council has been assisting enterprises on research and development towards the improvement on their storage technology. For example, vacuum-packaged corn silage helps keep quality and is also convenient for transportation. Farmland dedicated to corn silage production increased to 5,000 ha. in 2005 from 800 ha in 1997. The Council of Agriculture’s policy has proven to be greatly helpful to reducing costs and boosting the competitiveness of the domestic dairy industry.

Taiwan’s corn silage quality has won the recognition of Japan’s dairy industry. Accordingly, there has been a moderate growth in corn silage exports to Japan. Besides benefiting the domestic farmers the increased exports have brought in the following advantages: first, providing the incentive for up grading the yield and quality of domestic fodder ; second, decrease the domestic demand for imported forage grass; third, reduce the demand of for other fodders and as the result, the domestic dairy industry cost is effectively reduced.

The Council spokesman said, This Council will confines to promote the contracted farming of corn silage production, as order to keep the price of forage grass stable and provide a stable supply of the domestic fodder. Moreover, the Council plans to establish a special zone for corn silage production to upgrade the competitiveness of the diary industry.