This months linked article's:

• A BEEF BLEND TESTIMONIAL...
• THE SCIENCE BEHIND SUCCESSFUL GRASS SILAGE - PART 1...
• SILAGE ADDITIVES...
• NEW for 2010 'ONE FOR ALL' ECOSYL 100...
• NEWSDESK...

A BEEF BLEND TESTIMONIAL

A dairy farmer and customer of ours in the Cheshire area, managed by a husband and wife team, have also for a long time run alongside the dairy herd, an intensive beef system, using primarily cross bred continental cattle, with some Friesian / Holstein stock.

In the past they purchased beef feeds from a variety of suppliers, but fed the dairy herd on GP Feeds compounds and blends, relying upon nutritional advice from the company's representative Nick Sharp.

In the past 12 months a change was made to the feed being fed to the beef herd. Switching from a beef blend supplied by one of our competitors, to a customised GP Feeds beef blend. The consistency of our products is the key and has proved their worth in the terms of growth rate, quality of finished cattle, and the achievement of top prices at Market Drayton market on a regular basis.

Two products are used, a specific customised 14% rearer / finisher and an 18% blend designed to be fed 50/50 with barley. Such has been the success on this unit, the word has spread rapidly amongst the local beef farmers, and as a result of this we are now supplying several beef units in the area with the cereal balancer beef blend. All these new customers are reporting back to us that cattle settle well, readily eat the blend and perform better than previously.

With raw materials already bought for these products, we are well below today's market prices. We can supply these beef blends in bulk, 1t totes or ½t totes.

If you have a beef enterprise, or wish to start one up, ring us for a down to earth practical solution to take your business forward, in the most profitable way.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND SUCCESSFUL GRASS SILAGE - PART 1

The word SILO originates from the Greek word SIROS which means a hole or pit in the ground for storing corn. It is known that the Greeks and Egyptians were familiar with ensiling as a technique for storing fodder as far back as 1000 - 1500 BC. In parts of northern Europe grass was being ensiled in the early 18th century but only during the latter part of the 19th century did it become more widespread.

Energy and protein are the most expensive input for ruminants, and forage the cheapest energy source. Maximising the amount of energy used from a farms' own resources will give you the best margins whatever system you are using. Most ruminant obtain at least 75% of their food from grass and although grazed grass is the cheapest source of energy it should be possible to make good grass with minimum loss of energy.

A grass silage forage crop is preserved by pickling the grass in acid. In a natural fermentation the acid is produced by a bacteria present on the crop that, in the absence of air, converts plant sugars mainly into lactic acid.

There are 4 phases associated with ensiling grass.

1. The initial AEROBIC (oxygen present) phase begins at cutting and continues into clamping. It is not helpful to the subsequent fermentation because sugars are wasted as a result of the plant and microbial respiration that breaks sugars down to carbon dioxide and in the process produces heat.
2. The next phase occurs after all the oxygen has been used up and then conditions are ANAEROBIC (no oxygen present). Fermentation has now started.
3. When the fermentation process is complete storage of the ensiled grass can last a few weeks or several years. During this time there will be very little microbial activity and the silage will remain stable provided the clamp remains sealed.
4. The final stage starts when the pit is opened for feeding and the silage is exposed to the air again.

WELL FERMENTED SILAGE

When the fermentation process has been good particular types of lactic acid bacteria convert the grass sugars mainly to lactic acid resulting in a quick fall of the pH value from about 6 to pH 3.8 - 4.2 dependant on the grass dry matter. This rapid fall in pH reduces the breakdown of protein and reduces the activity of undesirable bacteria, which cause volatile fatty acids (VFA's) such as ACETIC and BUTYRIC, which in turn leads to more palatable silage with less dry matter losses.

BADLY FERMENTED SILAGE

If the fermentation process has not gone too well other types of lactic acid produce other fermentation products such as acetic acid and ethanol which will not aid acidification. When this process dominates the process is slower and means more valuable sugars will be required to achieve the final pH level and losses will be higher.

If sugar levels are not too high in the first place a stable pH may never be reached. The slower fall in pH also means a bigger breakdown of protein because of continued plant enzyme activity.

The faster the pH value falls the sooner the wasteful activities of the live plant material and undesirable microorganisms will stop. This will reduce losses and result in more palatable silage. It also conserves more sugars for conversion to lactic acid so less sugars will be required to make a successful fermentation.

To be continued next month with: How to achieve good fermentation and avoid aerobic spoilage.
(Ref: Ecosyl Products 'understanding Grass Silage 1996')

SILAGE ADDITIVES

If you haven't already booked your silage additive yet - give the office a call to discuss ECOSYL.

Our sales of Ecosyl have increased tenfold over the last 2 years - surely those customers who choose to use it can't be wrong. We would like you to join our increasing list of very happy and satisfied customers.

If your silage is looking wet or may be contaminated you may want to consider:

ADD-F NON-CORROSIVE - One of the best known and respected of all acid silage preservatives, Add-F, is now available in a non-corrosive formula from us, called Add-F NC (for non-corrosive). Originally developed by BP forty years ago, Kemira Chemicals have now taken over production and have made it far safer by using their proven gaseous ammoniation buffering process to remove the adverse effects that the old Add-F had on machinery and skin.

Add - F NC is ideal for: All silages that are low in sugar and/or have a high nitrate level and/or wet and contaminated grass.

Add-F NC is 80% formic acid, known for many years as the most effective and rapid silage preservative. Formic acid treatment is often used as the benchmark when research scientists test the effectiveness of silage additives because of its known reliability and predictability. Unfortunately handling and corrosion problems have made it increasingly unpopular for farm use. Kemira has a good name for developing effective farmer and environmentally friendly products so we expect the new formulation to regain its former popularity. Now available in 205 and 1000 litre containers. We can usually deliver within 48 hours.

WHEN ORDERING YOUR SILAGE ADDITIVE DON'T FORGET TO ORDER CLAMPFILM - LAST YEARS PRICES HELD!

CLAMPFILM is available in:

• 5m (16ft) x 50m (162.6ft) x 9kg
• 7m (23ft) x 50m (162.6ft) x 13kg
• 12m (39ft) x 50m (162.6ft) x 21kg
• 16m (52ft) x 50m (162.6ft) x 28kg

Use CLAMPFILM with the right additive and get the best results from your silage.

NEW for 2010 'ONE FOR ALL' ECOSYL 100

• For treating all grass and legume silage
• Available for liquid or dry application in 100 tonne packs
• Liquid can be applied form 20mls up to 2 litres per tonne
• Can be applied with any applicator, on any harvester
• Recommended for conventional or organic use
• Applies 1 million MTD/1 bacteria per gram of forage treated
• 2 year shelf life in a cool, dry place
• Proven to increase Milk Yield & LWG

WE CHOOSE TO SELL ONLY THE BEST PRODUCTS

NEWSDESK

PRICES ARE INDICATIONS ONLY DUE TO THE VOLATILE MARKETS, FOR UP TO DATE PRICES PLEASE CALL THE OFFICE ON 01948 661602

QUALITY PRODUCTS FOR QUALITY PRODUCTION

Contact

Gareth or Rachel (Office)
01948 661602 Fax 01948 871776

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