Testing of silage additives 1998

The efficacy of the silage additive All-Sil Granular, an inoculant to promote the main fermentation was tested. The trials were carried out in small-scale silos with a mixture of lucerne and cocksfoot. Forage of the first and second cut was ensiled at two different dry matter levels (about 20 and 30 % dry matter). A negative control without additives and two positive controls with formic acid and a salt containing nitrite were also investigated. The silos were opened after a storage time of about 100 days. In the inoculant, the concentration of lactic acid bacteria was analysed. Thereby, the concentration decreased with time and especially when the product was stored at room temperature. Butyric acid content of silages without additives was high. Formic acid treatment of forage, which was difficult to ensile, did not prove to be efficient. The additive All-Sil Granular supplemented with dextrose proved to be efficient. For the forages, which are less difficult to ensile this product showed a good efficacy for the first cut, but in the second cut the efficacy was insufficient. Therefore, it was the lower sugar content which was mainly responsible, for its efficacy. Based on these trials the product All-Sil Granular was authorized. The product is only efficient, if the sugar content in the forage is high or if sugar is added.