INOCULANTS CAN MAXIMISE PROTEIN RETENTION IN SILAGE
Treating grass with an inoculant will help retain valuable nutrients in the crop when fed as silage and this is especially true for protein.
Naturally occurring microbes can break down protein and produce foul-smelling silage acids, leading to nutrient loss and reduced silage palatability. These microbes can be inhibited quickly when a proven, specific forage inoculant is used to rapidly drop the pH below the level where these microbes can be active.
The Magniva Platinum forage inoculants which are formulated specifically for grass have been shown to retain up to 4% more protein in grass silage, increasing the supply of rumen-friendly protein and reducing the need for bought in protein. This improves the utilisation of home grown feeds and will also help keep feeding costs under control, typically saving 4-5p/cow/day.
There are other important points to consider along with the inoculant if you want to maximise the amount of protein retained in grass silage:
- Do not wilt grass for more than 24 hours. Studies have shown that up to 20% of the initial protein will be broken down when grass is wilted for in excess of 24 hours.
- Only mow the amount of grass that can be picked up before rain, because wet grass has a higher rate of protein breakdown than dry grass.
- Spread slurry far enough in advance (minimum 4 weeks) so no residue is left on the leaf surface, because slurry is rich in microbes that break down protein.
For more information on the Magniva range, contact your local Feed Specialist. Oh! and don’t forget to head over to Massey Harpers for our full range of harvest products
