Reducing the risk of maize silage losses
Maize silage can be prone to losses from poor fermentation. These losses are invisible and can run at about 8% for maize harvested at the recommended dry matter content. In some cases, maize losses may be higher. Dry matter losses can be as high as 20- 30%, between the pre-harvest and what finally ends up in the rumen.
In addition, maize silage is very prone to losses that occur when silage heats up. These losses take place when natural yeasts on the crop survive the fermentation process and initiate the process of aerobic spoilage (identified by heating) once the clamp is opened. This affects the maize clamp quality and allows the growth of various moulds that could potentially produce mycotoxins.
Greener maize with higher moisture content, on the other hand, may need extra help with fermentation. When harvesting at the correct DM, the base of the plant is almost certainly starting to senesce. It will most certainly contain a lot of yeasts and moulds that will be introduced into the clamp.
Choosing the right additive
When it comes to selecting an additive, therefore, unless you can absolutely guarantee you will only get one of these issues, it can be a good idea to consider one that covers both bases.
For example, one that contains beneficial bacteria, proven to improve fermentation and ideally animal performance (e.g. Lactobacillus Plantarum MTD/1), and which also contains either a second bacterium targeted against the yeasts and moulds that cause aerobic spoilage/heating (e.g. Lactobacillus buchneri PJB/1) or a chemical preservative.
Some examples of the benefits of including Lactobacillus Plantarum MTD/1 bacteria to produce a faster, more efficient initial fermentation:
- Makes better use of available sugars
- Preserves more nitrogen as true protein
- Reduces fermentation DM losses
- Minimises unwanted microbial activity
Some examples of the benefits of including Lactobacillus buchneri PJB/1 bacteria to inhibit the activities of the yeasts and moulds that cause aerobic spoilage:
- Less heating
- Lower DM losses
- Less physical waste
- Higher energy feed
- Less risk of mycotoxins
An example of an additive containing both of these beneficial bacteria is Ecocool.
Benefits of Ultra Low Volume (ULV) application
Certain bacterial additives can be applied in ultra-low volumes of water – down to just 20 ml/tonne of forage. Compared with traditional, higher water volumes, ULV can offer a number of benefits to both the contractor applying the additive and to the farmer whose crop is being treated:
- Much less fetching and carrying of water – allowing more time to be spent at the clamp e.g. on consolidation, which is also important for producing good silage
- Less mixing and fewer stoppages in the field to fill up – leading to time savings
- More acres harvested per day – leading to an increased chance of harvesting crops in optimum condition e.g. if the weather breaks
Maize Guide
Along with details on this years recommended varieties, our guide includes advice on how to get the most from your crop.
