Optimize™ in Action

Following chopping the grass just before the heading day, Optimize silage additive is added 2lts per tonne fresh crop (for information on silage preservation click here).

This inoculated forage is then added to the clamp where Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus pumilus act to reduce a number of spoilage organisms, some of which produce mycotoxins, and increase the digestibility of the silage. Microbial stimulants are contained within the formulation of Optimize silage inoculant to activate these Bacillus strains since they are supplied in a freeze dried form.

In addition to these Bacillus strains, fibrolytic enzymes are present which degrade complex carbohydrates in plant fibre and tissues. These carbohydrates tend to be the fibre fractions that are relatively indigestible by dairy cows and therefore their action results in improved digestibility of forage fibre.

Optimize contains no Lactobacillus strains in its formulation as this can drive the silage acidity to a pH which inhibits intake by the cow due to high lactic acid levels. The presence of naturally occurring Lactobacillus in the ensiled crop is sufficient to lower the pH from pH 7 to pH 4 at which point the silage is highly stabilised and the Bacillus strains sporulate and in doing so become dormant.

Silage treated with Optimize contains low levels of lactic acid.