Forage Types

Optimize treats grass silage , whole crop and maize silage and is appplied at ideally at 2lts/tonne or less if desired; this silage inoculant works on the wettest or the driest of crops.

All the issues which apply to preserving Grass silage also apply to Maize, Whole Crop and all other ensiled crops. Therefore, the action of Optimize Plus is just as relevant on any crop which can be clamped and fermented. It is the viability of the bacillus and the effectiveness of the enzymes which determine the results along with high standards of silage making practice.

Grass Silage

A key feature of Optimize and Optimize Plus treated silage is the reduction in the dwell time of the forage in the rumen (lag time). An ideal rumen throughput to maximise absorption of nutrients from silage is 3-3.5 hours.

Analysis consistently shows improved "lag time" after use of this silage additive and a faster more effective fermentation of the NDF by rumen bacteria is achieved. This faster throughput is reflected in the Dry Matter intakes. The higher nutrient density, in the silage (ME and CP) also means less need for bought in concentrate.

Maize Silage

Some tips for managing maize:

- Cobs should be mature before harvesting

- Dry matter of whole plant between 29% and 34%

- Dry matter of the grain between 56% and 60%

- Chop length 5 to 8 mm

- Keep clamp closed for 60 days

Enzymes in action:

Bioparametrics, Professor Roy Fawcett explains how by opening up the structure of NDF in the maize, higher fermentable NDF is achieved resulting in better appetites and intakes. He comments:

"Our research has shown that specific enzyme treatment to maize crops opens up the structure of the fibre so that the microbes can do their work faster. NDF normally digests at 5% per hour, but where the correct enzymes are present within the forage the rate of degradation can be doubled... The art of ration balancing is not simply about getting the proportions of energy and protein correct but maintaining the pH at a high level. The difference in a rumen pH of 5.8 and one of 6.6 is equivalent to 3.5 litres of milk per cow per day."

Therefore, with a herd of 180 cows this would produce an extra 630 litres of milk per day.

Whole Crop

- Whole Crop Cereal, wheat, barley, oats of triticle can be fermented.

- Fermented whole crop 35% - 45% DM (Chop length should be 2.5cm).

- High Dry matter fermented whole crop 45-75% DM (Chop length should be 10-30cm. Keep clamp closed for 60 days.