More clover and herbs in silage call for a different approach to preservation
Extreme weather conditions are changing grassland. Dairy farmers are increasingly choosing mixtures containing more clover and herbs, particularly on dry soils, but also in response to drier weather and fewer opportunities to apply fertiliser. These crops are more drought-tolerant and provide additional protein. However, these new mixtures also create new challenges when making silage.
While conventional grass ferments relatively uniformly during ensiling, modern mixtures contain many different plant species. Each plant dries at a different rate and has different sugar and protein levels and buffering capacities. This creates greater variation within a single silage clamp, making the ensiling process more challenging. Some areas acidify faster than others, creating opportunities for yeasts, moulds and Clostridia to develop.
Clostridia in particular often cause hidden problems, with major consequences for forage quality, intake and animal performance. Effective, stable preservation is therefore becoming increasingly important.
Lacteolus has been developed specifically to address this challenge. Thanks to its PBCs (Plant Based Components), this silage protectant supports a uniform fermentation process, even in silage containing a wide variety of plant species and dry matter contents. Lacteolus helps reduce levels of harmful bacteria and stabilise the pH more quickly, allowing fermentation to proceed optimally. At the same time, proteins are better preserved, enabling cows to utilise forage more efficiently. This helps preserve nutritional value, palatability and silage quality, even as increasingly extreme weather conditions affect forage.
Lacteolus is the solution for optimally preserving the quality of your silage containing clover and herbs.
Curious about what Lacteolus could do for your silage, or looking for advice?
Feel free to contact one of our forage specialists.
