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Additives for the ensiling process

Posted by on Apr 15, 2018 in Forage, Forage production, Health | 0 comments

Additives for the ensiling process

Additives in silage are to help the ensiling process and they can be chemical in the form of organic acids, for example formic acid, or biological in the form of freeze-dried lactic acid producing bacteria. Additives inhibit the activity of unwanted bacteria, fungus, mould and yeast and prevent degradation of nutrients.

Chemical additives inhibit the growth of unwanted microorganisms by decreasing the pH of the crop. Biological additives give additional contribution of the lactic acid producing bacteria that are needed for the ensiling process and by dissolving the bacteria in water 12 hours before use you get the best effect.

During bad weather conditions the harvest can quickly deteriorate and then different additives can be of use to prevent harmful bacterial growth. Read more about hygienic quality of forage here and bacteria, fungus and mould in forge here.

The ensiling process: Silage production implies that feed is conserved through an ensiling process. The ensiling process means that lactic acid producing bacteria, LAB, produces lactic acid during carbohydrate degradation. The lactic acid lowers the pH value in the feed and the goal with the ensiling process is to lower the pH enough to inhibit all microbial activity and the silage is then stable for storage during air tight conditions. For the lactic acid bacteria to dominate the ensiling process anaerobic conditions are required in the bales or the silo.

Sara Muhonen, AgrD

Reference:
©Trioplast. 2012. Balhandboken ISBN 978-91-637-1823-6 (in Swedish)

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