Agroscope, Institute for Plant Production Sciences IPS, 1260 Nyon, Switzerland

Testing silage additives 1999

In 1999, we investigated the efficacy of six silage additives, containing lactic acid bacteria, which should promote the main fermentation. The trials were carried out in small-scale silos with a mixture of lucerne and cocksfoot. Forage of the first and also second cut was ensiled at two different dry matter levels (about 20 and 30 % dry matter). The silos were opened after a storage time of about 100 days.<br><br>In the forages which are difficult to ensile, no product proved to be efficient. Although in the silages of the first cut no butyric acid was detected, the fermentation quality could not be improved with the different products in comparison to the negative control without additive. In the silages of the second cut, the negative control as well as the variants with the six products had relatively high butyric acid contents. Under these conditions, only the two positive controls with formic acid and a salt showed a good efficacy.<br><br>In the forages which are less difficult to ensile, the product Lactisil was efficient in both cuts. The other additives Amasil Bac Granulat, Naturasil, Silver 6, Silver 7 and Silver 8 were sufficiently or well efficient in the first cut. In the second cut these products could not inhibit a butyric acid fermentation and the efficacy was insufficient. The lower sugar content in the forage which is diffcult to ensile and the diminution of lactic acid bacteria concentration may be responsible for it.<br><br>Based on these trials, the product Lactisil is authorized for forages which are easy or less difficult to ensile. For the other products Amasil Bac Granulat, Naturasil, Silver 6, Silver 7 and Silver 8 we have extended the provisional authorization until the end of 2000.

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