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Evaluating Silage Inoculants By Dr. James I. Sprague, Livestock Nutrition Consultant The Popularity is Increasing Silage Inoculants became an important tool for making silage in the 1970s and have continued to become a more reliable tool. The reliability has been helped by research by the companies supplying the products and university research. Silage research is very difficult because of many reasons. Over time it has become apparent that reputable companies have improved the inoculant products themselves, as well as the services provided with the inoculants. Mixing Inoculants into the Feedstuffs is Critical Quality inoculant suppliers have become very knowledgeable and helpful in providing equipment to add the product to the forage or grain. There are different considerations if applied either at the forage chopper, the blower of an upright silo or at the bunker silo. There is no question, the proper place to incorporate an inoculant with forage is at the forage chopper to insure proper distribution. Caution: Putting an inoculant product on at the scale or pit is accepted, but is far from the best method of application. Time the Harvest to Capture Sugars The success of silage making comes from many management decisions, in addition to the use of an inoculant or an additive. The most critical event, in terms of helping the ensiling process is the timing of the harvest. There must be sugars present in the plant or grain for the fermentation to occur. Pack, Pack, and Pack Some More Rapid filling of the structure or bunker is important. Adequate packing is needed. The weight of the mass will pack the material but the top layer must have immediate attention of leveling and packing to exclude the air. The Ensiling Process is Very Simple To make excellent silage, the sugars that are present in the forage must be converted to lactic acid. Lactic acid is a very strong acid compared to acetic and butyric and it lowers the pH (the acidity is increased in order to keep the silage from spoiling and molding.) Inoculants vs. Additives Silage inoculants contain live bacterial cultures. Inoculant products may contain additional products such as enzymes, but to qualify as an inoculant they must contain live bacteria. The added bacteria from the inoculant will help the natural bacteria convert sugar to lactic acid. Other bacteria or yeast added are not needed and may be detrimental. Silage additives other than inoculants are: enzymes, killed bacteria that supply enzymes, minerals, nutrient products and chemical products. Some silage additives, other than inoculants, may be added to improve fermentation, preservation or to supply nutrients. Some silage additives contain enzymes or killed bacterial products that may contain enzymes. The theory is these enzymes help change soluble fiber and starch to some sugar for the natural bacteria to convert to lactic acid. Even sugar containing feedstuffs like dry and wet molasses are sometimes added to silage to feed the lactic-forming bacteria. One product on the market is primarily a special trace mineral mixture that is reported to improve fermentation. At one time ground limestone was added as buffering material, but is rarely used anymore. Some operators as a crude protein source may add anhydrous ammonia. The Reason for Adding an Inoculant 1. Even though all feedstuffs contain various strains of naturally occurring bacteria, the crop may be low in the good bacteria. The good bacteria are homofermentative bacteria 2. The feedstuffs may be high in bad bugs. These bugs are called heterofermentative bacteria. They come from the soil and manure, which had been applied to the soil that is then splashed upon the plant from rain or wind from dry soil. 3. Adding the inoculant adds the beneficial bacteria to speed up the ensiling process. 4. Research has demonstrated improved palatability, recovery from the silos, as well as an improvement in feed conversion from inoculated silos. Select a Supplier for an Inoculant Here are several considerations and questions to ask potential suppliers: Is the product backed by research? Be careful of testimonials vs. research. Testimonials are important but they must be substantiated by research. Does the additive have the right bugs? At this time it appears the superior inoculant products contain lactic acid producing bacteria, such as Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus pentosaceus. Proprionibacterium is also added, not because it produces lactic acid, but because it produces propionic acid to help reduce molds and improve bunk-life of the product after feeding. The current recommendation is at least 100,000 colony-forming units (cfu) per gram. Are the bugs alive in the additive? The proper method is to deliver the bacteria in airtight sealed containers Refrigeration is needed for some products for storage until they are applied to grain or forage. Does the inoculant supplier provide or recommend the equipment for proper application? Like many products that we use, attention to the small details of adequate dilution of a product, application to the forage and mixing with the forage is highly important. Questions or comments on this article can be addressed to Jim Sprague, 625 Grandview Avenue, Newton, Kansas, 67114 or call (316) 283-8692. |
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