In a Nutshell: Total Mixed Ration Silage

Total mixed rations (TMR) are produced by combining forages, by-products, concentrates, minerals, vitamins, and additives. Animals consume the nutrients required to meet the needs of maintenance and production from this mixture. Ensiling TMR is a long-established process. The ruminant production industry has shown a growing interest in TMR silage. The initial studies on TMR silage were published in the 1960s in the United States.

TMR silages have been shown to have a number of advantages, including the potential for incorporating unpalatable by-products (if their flavors and odors are altered by fermentation), the possibility of uniform composition during storage under farm conditions as well as high aerobic stability after feed out and a reduced requirement for labor and machinery (if TMR silage is purchased). TMR silages, like other silages, also have the potential to be commercialized, particularly if kept in smaller facilities (e.g., bales, bags, and pouches).