Do Inoculants… Work?
How does a little jar of powder really impact that much feed?
From planting to harvesting, you make critical decisions and dedicate many resources to ensure quality feed for your herd. The effects of feed quality, good or bad, are long lasting. Even if the crop from field to storage is immaculate with high yields, proper nutrients, and correct moisture- what about the fermentation process? The part of the equation that varies with storage, weather, and crop characteristics.
Using a silage inoculant is good insurance that you will maximize the potential of your harvested crop. Bacteria are powerful and rapidly reproducing bugs with the ability to double their population in 4-20 minutes. This enables them to have a massive impact on the silage if the amount is within their threshold population. Relying only on the naturally occurring bacteria will cause about a 3% dry-matter loss which will decrease your cow’s energy and milk production when fed.
Sealing the Storage Structure
When harvesting, the process should be to fill and seal the silage storage structure as quickly as possible – as well as – limit the amount of oxygen in storage. With less oxygen, the faster the fermentation process is allowed to begin. Native bacteria need the absence of oxygen to ferment. Excessive oxygen allows micro-organisms like yeasts to grow, decreasing substrates. Practicing techniques that ensure packing density and decreased air gaps in the forage, thus reducing available oxygen - will advance the fermentation process and reduce feed loss. Moisture content, obtainability of glucose and other sugars, and the population of native bacteria can all negatively affect silage fermentation.
Bunker Safety
More important than silage quality, human safety around the bunkers/piles is a neglected topic that could save a life.
A few recommended rules to follow at your farm:
1. Do not approach a bunker/pile that is more than 8 feet high
2. For every foot of height, stay back 3 feet
3. 1-foot high: 3-foot back ratio for collapsing (EX: 12-foot-high, thirty-six feet back)
4. Do not let nutritionist collect samples, use a piece of equipment instead (skid loader, teleporter, etc. to collect the sample
Lactic Acid
Glucose contains six carbon atoms, and lactic acid bacteria divides it in ½. Naturally occurring bacteria produce one lactic acid molecule (3 carbon atoms) and the other 3 carbon atoms become different chemicals that may or may not be beneficial. A good inoculant bacteria will the break the glucose in ½ and make 2 lactic acid molecules. This lowers pH from about 5.9 to 6.5 down to approximately 4.0, which is considered stable. Quickly reducing the pH prevents harmful micro-organisms from multiplying and cuts protein degradation. This manages the fermentation process and preserves the feed by inhibiting pathogens and allowing beneficial microbes to reproduce. Lactic acid is also used for energy, resulting in higher milk production per pound of dry matter forage.
Inoculants + Fermentation
Silage inoculants consist of lactic acid producing bacteria. A good inoculant strain will be more efficient than the naturally occurring bacteria and out compete them. They then produce critical amounts of lactic acid which accelerates the initial fermentation process. Silage inoculants that contain lactic acid accelerate the pH drop. Lactic acid is stronger than acetic acid, acting faster. Choose an inoculant with better quality organisms as opposed to using more of a poorer product. It is not about how many organisms are in the feed if they aren’t strong enough to survive against the pre-existing harmful bacteria. By not using an inoculant, you will see approximately a 3% dry matter loss. Imagine paying to plant and harvest 100 tons, and only 97 tons being of any value. If you’re still wondering how a jar of powder will protect 500 tons of feed- consider millions of organisms, multiplying by the second to a handful of feed. There is no warranty that the inoculant will perform as claimed, due to the manufacturer having no control on the growing conditions, hybrid selection, and how it is used. But, remember you have a 0% chance of increasing your feed value by not using inoculants.