Quality silage – minimal losses Bioferm Silage Seminar Kurdejov, Czech Republic, 6 February 2014

Prof. Marketta Rinne and M.Sc. Arja Seppälä MTT Agrifood Research Finland www.mtt.fi tt fi

Objectives of ensiling grass and d other th fforages: • •

Balanced feeding year around in spite of fluctuating annual feed supply High quality of feed • •

•

Minimal ensiling losses • • •

•

Mechanical losses Spoilage in silo At feeding g

Utilization in feeding • • • •

Photos: Marketta Rinne

Chemical and microbiological parameters Health of animals, farmers and consumers

High voluntary intake Concentrations of nutrients Digestibility Economy

Finland has strong traditions in silage making based on acid additives • A A.I.Virtanen I Virtanen patented the use of acids in silage preservation in 1920’s • Virtanen was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistryy in 1945 • http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/1945/virtane n-bio.html

• The use of formic acid as a silage additive started in a large scale in 1960’s

3

Forage in the field

Shedding, g leaching g Respiration Poor fermentation Forage in silo

Effluent production Aerobic deterioration Low intake F Forage i in

Aerobic deterioration

feeding F Forage i in the rumen

Rumen fermentation and digestibility Produc-

Milk quality, quality animal health

tion Payment

Process

Classification

Losses, %

Residual respiration

Unavoidable

1-2

Plant enzymes

Fermentation

Unavoidable

2 -4

Microorganisms

Effluent OR Field losses by wilting

Mutually unavoidable

5→7 or 2→5

DM content Weather technique, Weather, technique management, crop

Secondary fermentation

Avoidable

0→ 5

Crop suitability, suitability environment in silo, DM content

Aerobic deterioration d i storage during t

Avoidable

0 → 10

Filling time, density, silo, sealing, li crop suitability it bilit

Aerobic deterioration during storage

Avoidable

0 → 15

As above, DM content, unloading technique, technique season

Total

Causative factor

7 → 40 McDonald, Henderson & Heron. 1991. The Biochemistry of Silage. 2nd ed. Chalcombe Publications, UK. 5

Process

Most losses are never ”seen” ClassifiLosses, Causative and can thus easily be neglected cation % factor

Residual respiration

Unavoidable

1-2

Plant enzymes

Fermentation

Unavoidable

2 -4

Microorganisms

Mutually Effluent OR Field10 losses by unavoidable % i increase i in wilting

5→7 or 2→5

DM content Weather technique, Weather, technique management, crop

losses on a 100 Secondary Avoidable h hectare t f farm fermentation means a needAvoidable of Aerobic deterioration d i10storage during thectares h t more Aerobic silage deterioration Avoidable fields

0→ 5 0 → 10 0 → 15

during storage Total

Insuitability, worstenvironment cases Crop suitability in whole silo, DM content silo must Filling density, silo, betime, discarded. sealing, li crop suitability it bilit

Losses = 100 %

As above, DM content, unloading technique, technique season

7 → 40 McDonald, Henderson & Heron. 1991. The Biochemistry of Silage. 2nd ed. Chalcombe Publications, UK. 6

Aerobic deterioration has become a big issue – silage heats at feedout • In efficiently wilted silages, air penetration into the silage mass is easier than in wet herbage mass • Restrictively fermented silages contain water soluble carbohydrates which are good substrates for yeasts • Substances such as benzoic, sorbic or propionic acid may be included in the additives to improve aerobic stability

• Pure lactic acid containing silages are more susceptible as acetic acid restricts heating • Heterofermentative LAB such as L. Buchneri may be used

7

Spoilage may occur, when: •Not Not acidic enough •Suitable humidity, temperature •Oxygen yg available •Nutrients easily available

Carbohydrates y and organic acids are oxidized

Temperature rises Nutrient losses

Mycotoxins Feed intake decreases

Listeria etc.

Seppälä, A., Tsitko, I., Ervasti, S., Miettinen, H., Salakka, A., & Rinne, M. 2013. The role of additives when ensiling red clover-grass mixture for biogas production. Proc.17th Symposium of the European Grassland Federation, Akureyri, Iceland, 23-26 June 2013. Grassland Science in Europe 18: 563-565.

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How to evaluate silage quality? • pH – depends on DM concentration p of ammonium N from total N • Proportion • If the additive contains ammonium, the results may be corrected for the added amount

• • • • • • • •

Butyric acid – risk particularly to cheese quality Amount of lactic acid, VFA, VFA to lactic acid ratio Total amount of fermentation acids Residual water soluble carbohydrates (WSC), ”sugars” Smell, colour, visual signs of mould, yeasts and spoiled feed A bi stability Aerobic t bilit – raise i in i temperature t t after ft opening i the th silo il Silage DM intake index Transfer of energy and nutrients from the field into animal products • Amount and quality of animal products 10

Acceptable silage pH depends on silage DM concentration t ti – lack l k off water t partly tl restricts the detrimental microbial activity Residual R id l WSC content at least 0.7 % FM when DM300

KemiSile4

273

Different additives for crimped grain • A farm scale experiment • Propcorn NC • 72.6% propionic acid, 21.4% ammonium propionate and 6% water

• AIV Ässä • 59% formic acid, 20% propionic acid, 4% ammonium formate, formate 2.5% 2 5% benzoic acid/sorbate and 14% water

• At rates 0, 3, 6 ja 9 l/t •

Seppälä, A., Nysand, M., Mäki, M., Miettinen, H., Rinne, M. 2012. Ensiling crimped barley grain at farm scale in plastic tube bag with formic and propionic acid based additives. Proc. XVI International Silage Conference Hämeenlinna, Finland, 2-4 Julyy 2012. p p. 436437. 34

Barley composition prior to crimping DM, g/kg

792

In DM,, g/kg g g Ash

26

Crude protein

113

Crude fibre

47

Starch

582

Murska crimping mill

Additive application 4.3.2014

4.3.2014

pH

Ethanol etanoli

6

9 8

5

7 4

6

3

5

pH

etanoli

4

2

3 2

1

1 0 nolla

P3

P6

P9

Ä3

Ä6

0

Ä9

nolla

Water solublesokeri carbohydrates 35

P3

P6

P9

Ä3

Ä6

Ä9

Lactic acid maitohappo 2.5

30

2

25 1.5

20

sokeri

15

maitohappo

1

10 0.5

5 0

0 nolla

P3

P6

P9

Ä3

Ä6

Ä9

nolla

P3

P6

P9

Ä3

Ä6

Ä9

4.3.2014

kaym_tuot_yht Total fermentation products

Total VFAvfa_yht

14

12

12

10

10 8

8

6

kaym_tuot_yht

6

vfa_yht

4

4

2

2 0

0 nolla

P3

P6

P9

Ä3

Ä6

nolla

Ä9

etikkahappo A ti acid Acetic id

P3

P6

P9

Ä3

Ä6

Ä9

propionihappo Propionic acid 12

2.5

10

2

8 1.5 etikkahappo

1

6

propionihappo

4 0.5

2

0

0 nolla

P3

P6

P9

Ä3

Ä6

Ä9

nolla

P3

P6

P9

Ä3

Ä6

Ä9

4.3.2014

Aerobic stability of crimped barley was improved by the use of additives AIV Ässä

Additive already at crimping works also as stabilizer in the TMR giving double benefit

Propcorn 42

Succesful silage making • High yield (kg/ha) • Take care of agronomic factors – important economically • Ensure p possibilities to p produce g good quality raw material for silage • Minimize losses in the silage chain

• High nutritional value

Affects the price of silage

Results in high milk output

• Digestibility g y / energy gy value • Fermentation quality • Intake potential

• High hygienic quality

Ensures the E th health h lth and safety of animals, barn staff and consumers

Finnish cows dreaming of grass – living on silage Questions & comments!

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