Silage inoculants
- Thread starter Nenuphar
- Start date
Sunshine
IMO it’s snake oil, only benefits are in wet silage, putting it on good silage is throwing money down the drain
- Location
- Co. Tyrone
Only innoculant I've seen with any independent research done on it was ecosyl. From memory it showed a bit over a litre increase in milk yield of cows fed it but I think that was from the effect of the bacteria in the rumen rather than increased nutritional value of the silage itself. Been a long time since I read the papers so look yourself to check those figures, and check if you can find any other innoculants with recently published research I missed out
- Location
- Buying Group Central
We have some available as a spot price.
Envirosystems Optisile Extra - Silage Inoculant - 50 treated-tonnes per 100g pot
It's very well reviewed.
"Since using EnviroSystems’ additive it has always kept the silage cool, and it’s easy to mix. When you pull back the sheet the silage has kept stable, with no waste and no secondary fermentation – even in tough seasons for weather. It’s a combination of things – we do make a better job of sheeting and use side sheets now, as well as using the OptiSile which keeps the silage stable.” - Martin Wannop, Waverton House Farm, Cumbria
“We have a large pit face and used to get secondary fermentation, but since switching to OptiSile in 2019 we’ve seen stability in the pit and no secondary fermentation year on year. No matter what the weather brings it keeps the silage stable with no waste – the cows eat every last bit.” - John Little, Low Moor Dyke, Cumbria
Envirosystems Optisile Extra - Silage Inoculant - 50 treated-tonnes per 100g pot
It's very well reviewed.
"Since using EnviroSystems’ additive it has always kept the silage cool, and it’s easy to mix. When you pull back the sheet the silage has kept stable, with no waste and no secondary fermentation – even in tough seasons for weather. It’s a combination of things – we do make a better job of sheeting and use side sheets now, as well as using the OptiSile which keeps the silage stable.” - Martin Wannop, Waverton House Farm, Cumbria
“We have a large pit face and used to get secondary fermentation, but since switching to OptiSile in 2019 we’ve seen stability in the pit and no secondary fermentation year on year. No matter what the weather brings it keeps the silage stable with no waste – the cows eat every last bit.” - John Little, Low Moor Dyke, Cumbria
My first cut goes into two pits. Used innocuoant in one,none in the other. No difference in analysis or when feeding out. Use your money to buy grass seed . Better return on investment.
farmer1989
Member
- Location
- cumbria
Used addative last year first time in years reason silage has been slipping for last 4 years in a row silage has been in top 6 in local silage comp 2x in a row on analysis anyway feeding it now no heating at all and pit hasn't slipped
frederick
Member
- Location
- south west
Why would an additive have any effect on the structural properties of the grass to stop slippage.
frederick
Member
- Location
- south west
Last year we made some wet silage and we have excellent quality. But ph of 3.7 which results in excellent keeping qualities but must be a bit hard on the cows. Would an additive have resulted in that pH drop stopping a bit earlier.
farmer1989
Member
- Location
- cumbria
No idea but its the only thing we changed and its not slipped reason for using 1 was if it did slip wouldnt go hot as fast
We mowco then ted 1 hr later then picup after 24hrs young leafy grass try to get as much sun as we can but im in cumbria thats not guaranteed analysis has been similar to last years which sliped maybe just luck no idea silage is clamped in layers with telehandler and class axion 850 on buckrake