Many feeding , economic and managemental problems have been observed to be associated with the silage feeding (Wilkinson, 1990) e.g.;

• 1) The high cost of production, losses during storage and damage to the walls and floors of silos.

• 2) Variation in feed characteristics due to multicut.

• 3) Effluent and pollution problems.

• 4) The unpredictable feeding value and tendency to enhance milk fat but not milk protein in lactating animals.

All these factors have forced animal scientists to look for suitable alternatives to grass silage . Whole crop cereals have drawn the attention of workers as a substitute for grass silage due to the following advantages ;

• 1) The number of cuts and the harvesting cost can be reduced .

• 2) A high dry matter yield of crop can be obtained with modest application of fertiliser and no effluent problem.

• 3) The early harvesting of the crop gives more time for the entry of the following crop.

• 4) More predictable nutritive value , high grain content ( approaching 50 % ) of the total crop yield .