Alfalfa is very sensitive to ensiling. In terms of nutrition, good alfalfa silage will provide a high level of protein and quality fibres, which will balance the energy of corn silage. These characteristics make the fodder difficult to ensile. High protein content means high buffer capacity (resistance to acidification) and good fibres means difficult to pack silage. These problems are increased by the low sugar content of alfalfa (bacteria produce lactic acid from sugars) and general high dry matter content (>30%). Where corn silage has problems of stability after opening (aerobic stability) and where rye grass has problems of acidification, alfalfa has both.
To obtain the best from their alfalfa silages, farmers have to use specifically designed inoculants. “Classic” inoculants, based on homofermentative lactic acid bacteria (acidifying bacteria such as: Lactobacillus plantarum, Enterococcus faecium, Pediococcus acidilactici or pentosaceus etc.) are designed to acidify silages, but do not find enough sugar available in alfalfa to produce high quantities of lactic acid. They have to be associated with cellulolytic enzymatic complexes. Such a formula is right to acidify, but what about stability after opening? To inhibit yeasts and moulds, responsible for aerobic instability (heating, losses, mycotoxins, intake decrease), the Dutch Institute ID-DLO has selected the strain Lactobacillus buchneri NCIMB (patented by ID-DLO/Lallemand-Biotal).
Combination product
Based on these technical elements, Lallemand Animal Nutrition has designed Lalsil Dry, a specific product to help farmers in achieving premium alfalfa silages. This inoculant is a combination of the osmotolerant (able to grow in high DM silages) homofermentative lactic acid bacteria Pediococcus acidilacticiMA18/5M, the patented antifungal lactic acid bacteriaLactobacillus buchneri NCIMB 40788 associated with a cellulolytic / hemicellulolytic enzymatic complex already used in Lalsil PS.
Based on these technical elements, Lallemand Animal Nutrition has designed Lalsil Dry, a specific product to help farmers in achieving premium alfalfa silages. This inoculant is a combination of the osmotolerant (able to grow in high DM silages) homofermentative lactic acid bacteria Pediococcus acidilacticiMA18/5M, the patented antifungal lactic acid bacteriaLactobacillus buchneri NCIMB 40788 associated with a cellulolytic / hemicellulolytic enzymatic complex already used in Lalsil PS.
The first activity of Lalsil Fresh is to quickly acidify the silage (Figure 1), which guarantees a feeding value close to the fresh alfalfa. Another benefit for the farmer is the possibility to open the silo earlier. This quicker acidification demonstrates the synergistic effect of the enzymatic complex which increase the content of soluble sugars and of Pediococcus acidilacticiMA18/5M which transforms these sugars in lactic acid to acidify the silage two times quicker than without Lalsil Dry.
.jpg)
During the acidification phase,Lactobacillus buchneri NCIMB 40788 does its job of antifungal strain. This trial shows that one month after ensiling, the Lalsil Dry silage fungal content is 10,000 times lower than without treatment. After silage opening, two benefits of this fungal destruction can be observed:
1. Better pH stability (Figure 3). By keeping the pH stable after opening, Lalsil Dry insures coliforms, listeria and butyrics free silage. The feeding value will not decrease, the risk of pathology is lower and the bacteriological milk quality is better.
.jpg)
2. Colder silo face (Figure 4) temperature increase is due to the aerobic microflora growth. A stable temperature is the guarantee of lower risk of mycotoxin, fewer losses and better intake. This effect is appreciated during the warmer season. All farmers have already observed that intake is decreased during spring or summer. With Lalsil Dry they can prevent this and secure milk production under warm climates.
.jpg)
The use of mixed rations also justifies the use of the inoculant. The mixing process creates perfect conditions for fungal growth (aeration). If one part of the ration, such as alfalfa silage, is protected against instability, the ration degradation will be slower. The specific combination of bacteria has been developed and validated to offer the perfect compromise between acidification and stability of low sugar and high DM silages such as alfalfa silages. When using it, farmers will find a solution to losses, mycotoxins and intakes problems they face with their silages. The overall benefit is a constant feeding value and a constant and consistent milk production during 200 days for a preserved high benefit from homegrown forages.
INOCULANTS BECOMING MORE POPULAR
The use of additional products to preserve silage material was high in the second half of the nineties, but has decreased since then. The last few years their use is becoming more popular again. Weather conditions during harvest often determine the use of additional preservation products.
The use of additional products to preserve silage material was high in the second half of the nineties, but has decreased since then. The last few years their use is becoming more popular again. Weather conditions during harvest often determine the use of additional preservation products.
All products aim at lowering pH (acidity) of the silage. This can be achieved by adding organic acids, mixtures of lactic acid bacteria, or sugars as a feed for lactic acid bacteria. Lactic acid bacteria are most popular in use and have lowered the market share of salt, salt acids and sugars. Many products are on the market and prices vary from €0,80 to €3.50 per tonne ensiled product.
The mode of action of the different products varies. Which product to use depends on dry matter and sugar content of the silage. When the dry matter content is high a product to reduce temperature is advised. Salts are often used as top-dressing. When dry matter content is low (<35%) organic acids or bacteria are used. There has to be enough sugar in the silage to feed the bacteria, but some bacteria mixtures also work with low sugar contents.
Inoculants are not miracle products. Grass that has been wilting for days in a rainy period cannot be turned into perfect silage with the help of an inoculant. Some products, however, have broader range of activity than only preserving the silage. They can make silage tastier, which increases intake, and some products can even lead to higher fat or protein content of the milk.
.jpg)
