Powdered silage inoculants

Rob Holmes

Moderator

BASIS

Location

Ashbourne, Derbyshire

• Apr 12, 2022

• #1

We’ve just bought a forage wagon fitted with a powder additive applicator, and having a quick search online, I can only find a handful of powdered silage inoculants.
Does this mean that powdered additives are inferior to liquid ones?
Any recommendations for good powder inoculants.

N.B. Previously when using contractors, we used Powerstart

 

milkloss

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

East Sussex

• Apr 12, 2022

• #2

Sorry, a bit off topic but do you think they do any good? I'm sure they do if you're dragging mud into the pit but we're fair weather foragers and having not used additive for the past two years can't see the benfit.

 

Great In Grass

Member

✓

Location

Cornwall.

• Apr 12, 2022

• #3

Powder went out with the ARK.

The applicator pipes would get wet and bung up with wet powder.

 

Great In Grass

Member

✓

Location

Cornwall.

• Apr 12, 2022

• #4

milkloss said:

Sorry, a bit off topic but do you think they do any good? I'm sure they do if you're dragging mud into the pit but we're fair weather foragers and having not used additive for the past two years can't see the benfit.

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I've sold inoculant since 1982 (yes, a long time ago). Three things I've found amongst others is a rapid fermentation, no heating of the clamp & increased animal intake.

 

milkloss

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

East Sussex

• Apr 12, 2022

• #5

Great In Grass said:

I've sold inoculant since 1982 (yes, a long time ago). Three things I've found amongst others is a rapid fermentation, no heating of the clamp & increased animal intake.

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Fair play, perhaps we're just experts at making silage! We've reserved the idea of only using additive if it's a seriously dodgy year. Admittedly we're making mature beef cow silage though.

 

Al R

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

West Wales

• Apr 12, 2022

• #6

Only ever used EcoSyl or Acid in any quantity, much prefer Ecosyl, ideally ULV.
I was given some powders for wholecrop as a trial but fortunately another contractor knew what rate to add it into the 40gal drums at so we could run it through the wet applicators. It wasn’t as good as the EcoSyl/EcoCool? So didn’t go on to buy any more of it.
Multicut systems with high N useage/slurry etc I find additive is a must to stop spoilage. Obviously all other parts of the clamp and process are key to good silage, as is a long sward height if possible.

 

R

Ribble

Member

• Apr 13, 2022

• #7

I was told that all the bugs are in there already, and some extra sugar to give them a kick would probably be more effective. Not sure if I believe it