Besut: Three siblings from Kampung Bukit Jeruk here are tapping the potential of napier grass to produce silage, a livestock feed increasingly sought after by cattle breeders for its potential to improve meat quality.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohd Khomeni Mohd Razi, 45, and his two siblings, Al Mohd Firdaus Mohd Razi, 44, and Al Mohd Fakriellah Mohd Razi, 41, have turned their 11.3-hectare napier grass plantation into a source of income by using the crop as raw material for silage production. Mohd Khomeni said they began the venture commercially in 2024 after spending about a year supplying napier grass as elephant feed, before demand for it eventually ceased.
'We then saw the potential to process the napier grass into silage ourselves and sell it directly to farmers. Every morning, we cut the grass and bring it to a site along the Kuala Terengganu-Kota Bharu main road in Kampung Renek, where two workers help us process it. The grass is then cut into finer pieces using a machine before undergoing the next stage of the silage-making process,' he said when met by Bernama here recently.
Mohd Khomeni explained that the process starts with chopping the napier grass and adding additives such as molasses (brown sugar), before being packed into black plastic containers for fermentation. 'This process allows the napier grass to last longer and be stored as livestock feed for later use. Each bag contains about 20 kilogrammes of silage, and on average, we produce about 60 bags a day. During certain seasons, especially the Hari Raya Haji when demand for livestock feed increases, production can reach 100 bags a day,' he said.
He noted that customers can buy the silage directly at their booth or place orders for delivery. 'We also deliver the silage to customers in Kelantan, with the retail price set at RM12 per bag and RM10 per bag for wholesale purchases,' he said. 'Demand so far has been very encouraging, with customers giving positive feedback, especially about the quality and taste of the beef,' he added.
The business not only adds value to the napier grass they cultivate, but also provides an opportunity to expand their livestock feed business in a more organised way. 'We will continue focusing on silage production to meet demand from livestock breeders, while also looking at ways to introduce more napier grass-based products to livestock operators in Terengganu and neighbouring states,' he said.