Use of Feed’more’ prevents losses
The quality of the preserved feed in grass silages is directly related to the level of milk production of cows and therefore to the income of the producer. Wageningen UR Livestock Research calculated that for an average farm with 100 dairy cows the earned income may decrease by € 3000 to € 4000 due to preservation and nutritive losses (Wageningen UR Livestock Research, 2010). This indicates the importance of minimum losses during preservation and feeding. This article explains why Dutch farmers in particular suffer from increased risk of silage and nutritive losses. In addition, a solution is suggested in order to be able to preserve the silage better and faster, and prolong storage whilst maintaining and improving nutritional value.
Heating risk for Dutch farmers
During preservation and feeding of silage, heating is a serious threat. Heating is defined as a greater than eight degrees difference in temperature between the lower and upper layers of the silo. This usually occurs when oxygen enters the silage and thus groups of bacteria, mould and yeasts become active again. Carbohydrates (sugars), and organic acids are used in the growth of these organisms. This creates a temperature rise in the silage and a loss of dry matter and nutritive value. The Wageningen University study demonstrates dry matter losses caused by heating in silage of up to 3.5% per day depending on the temperature rise. There is also a difference of 45 VEM between silage with and without heating. Also, there is a corresponding decrease in protein content from RE 14 g / kg DM to DVE 5 g / kg DM DVE (Oostveen and van Straalen, 2007).
According to the soil and crop breeding laboratory BLGG AgroXpertus silage clamps that are susceptible to heating have a low level of acetic acid , high acidity (pH)and a relatively high dry matter content (van Drie, 2004). Dry silage clamps are more likely to retain oxygen because they are harder to compact as they are spongy. Moreover, in a dry silage clamp there is little moisture. Therefore, the bacteria that produce lactic acid and acetic acid work less effectively, and the pH value does not drop to an effective level for good preservation. Both, the Livestock Research Division of the Wageningen University and BLGG AgroXpertus note that in recent years higher heating losses occurred on Dutch farms than was expected. They concluded that silage clamps with too high a DM content were a major cause of these heating losses. For example, in 2009, almost half of the silage clamps measured contained a dry matter content of more than 50% (Figure 1). These silage clamps are susceptible to heating and therefore have a significant risk of losses. Dry weather during harvest is a significant factor influencing the DM of the silage. (Wageningen UR Livestock Research, 2010).
Furthermore, it was found that clamps made in recent years have a high sugar content. When this factor is combined with high dry matter(> 40%) in the silage, there is an increased risk of heating (Wageningen UR Livestock Research, 2010). To compensate for these losses and the deterioration of grass silage intake, extra roughage and concentrates should be fed to maintain production.
Figure 1. Frequency distribution of dry matter content of grass silage in 2009. Blue lines are the percentages of clambs (Source: BLGG AgroXpertus)
The solution is silage inoculant Feed’more’
Forage specialist Peter Riemersma indicated in ‘Veeteelt magazine’ that more and more farmers use a silage inoculant to improve the preservation of the silage (van Drie, 2011). However, there are many silage inoculants on the market and a conscious choice should be made. For example a good silage inoculant should contain lactic acid forming bacteria that decrease the pH after clamping so that the silage is rapidly stabilized , even in a clamp with a high dry matter content. But at a pH of 4.5, the lactic acid forming bacteria should stop multiplying to avoid too low a pH value in the silage. However lactic acid is easily fermentable under aerobic conditions. Therefore a silage inoculant with only lactic acid forming bacteria can promote heating. For this reason, the addition of the bacterium Lactobacillus brevis, which forms acetic acid, is indispensable to control yeasts and mould (van Drie, 2011).
Agriprom has introduced Feed’more’, containing a combination of two lactic acid bacterial strains that together ensure that a wide range of sugars are converted into lactic acid to decrease the pH value. When the pH is below 5, the growth of these bacteria stop and no additional natural proteins are degraded. This results in a stable clamp with the minimal loss of nutritional value. In addition, Feed’more’ contains the bacterium Lactobacillus brevis which produces acetic acid when oxygen enters the silage clamp at opening. Acetic acid ensures that after opening the silage clamp the growth of moulds and yeasts ,which cause heating ,are inhibited.
In addition, Feed’more’ contains a novel mixture of enzymes that significantly improve both the feed value and the digestibility of the silage and thus promote increased production. The enzymes separate the carbohydrates in the fibre from the lignin and release significant amounts of energy that would normally be bound and unavailable to rumen microbes. In addition the improvement of digestability increases rumen throughput and enables more forage to be fed in the ration. This has led to demonstrable increases in production when using Feed’more’ . Research in the USA has shown that use of Feed’more’ improves the nutritional value of silage in comparison to silage clamps that were not treated with Feed’more. In the study, four repetitions were carried out and 1800 cows were tested. It showed that the milk production per cow increased by up to 3 litres per day when they were fed from silage clamps treated with Feed’more’. Once the treated silage was replaced by a non-treated silage from the same source, the cows immediately produced 1-2 litres less .
| Feed’more’ ( jar) contains the following enzymes | |
| Xylanase | |
| Mannanase | |
| ß-glucanase | |
| Cellulase | |
Table 1. Enzymes in Feed’more’
Conclusion
It is important to focus on not making silage too dry because dry clamps are at high risk of heating and become unstable after opening. In recent years, Dutch silage clamps have been found to be very dry. To prevent heating and to produce a stable clamp it is common for farmers to use a silage inoculant. Experts confirm that a good silage inoculant should contain a high concentration of lactic acid bacteria to ensure a rapid fermentation and reduce nutritional losses. In addition a good silage inoculant should contain Lactobacillus brevis to ensure stability after opening of the silage clamp. Feed’more’ contains these ingredients and is therefore selected by Agriprom as the solution for dry pits and the containment of heating danger. In addition Feed’more’ contains a novel enzyme package which significantly improves feed value and digestability. Feed’more’ has been extensively tested and it has been demonstrated that the use of Feed’more’ increases milk production.
All advantages of Feed’more’at a glance
- Rapid pH decline, better conversion
- Extends shelf life silage after opening silage pit
- Retains more ensiled dry matter and nutrient
- Increases crude fiber digestion
- Improves palatability
- Significantly reduces losses due to scalding and protein degradation
- Reduces nutrient loss
- The fermentation process is improved
- Improves daily growth of beef cattle and milk production of dairy
- Get more milk from your feed
- Does not contain acids that will corrode your equipment
References
Drie, van I, 2004. Heating at the cost of feed value. Veeteelt mei 1, 2004: 10-13.
Schoten, van H. & Philipsen, B. (2010), Effect of silage management on gas emissions at farm level. Wageningen UR Livestock Research
Oostveen, A.J., en W.M. van Straalen, 2007. The consequences of heating for nutritive value of grasses and corn silages. Proefverslag nr. 865. Schorhorts Feed Research, Lelystad.Drie, van I, 2011. Er Broeit iets in de kuil. Veeteelt april 2, 2011: 38-41.
