Silage quality: Understanding and managing the forage quality puzzle

Silage quality poses a complex challenge, impacting the nutritional value, safety and effectiveness of feed.​

Base nutrition is determined by forage type and harvest timing, with further feed value influenced by managing air and microbiology during fermentation, storage and feed out (when feed is placed in front animals at the feed face).

In fact, effective silage storage is just as vital as ensiling. Damage to the plastic cover – whether standard, vacuum or oxygen barrier – can allow air to enter, changing the silage’s microbiology and fermentation characteristics. This can lead to the production of molds, mycotoxins and undesirable acids, resulting in greater losses and reduced palatability.

Mycotoxins are detrimental to silage quality because they can contaminate feed, leading to reduced nutritional value, compromised animal health and decreased feed intake.

The Alltech Harvest Analysis, a decade-long global initiative, is a comprehensive step in understanding the complexities of new crop quality and mycotoxin prevalence worldwide. The program captures trends and enables robust data comparisons across years and regions. This analysis plays a pivotal role in empowering feed and livestock producers with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions.

The impact of weather on global harvest​

Environmental conditions significantly influence mycotoxin contamination in crops. The most important factors for mold growth, development and mycotoxin contamination are temperature and humidity during crop development.

Recently, Europe has experienced varied weather conditions impacting the harvest. Regions marked in green and dark green indicate areas with heavy rainfall, which may delay harvest. Conversely, areas in orange and red are experiencing hot and dry weather, which favors aflatoxin production in corn.

Figure 1: Observed weather anomalies.​​

Figure 2: Corn producing areas.​​

France and Romania may be affected, as they produce a lot of corn and have experienced high precipitation. This environment is conducive to Fusarium​ species, which produce mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol (DON), T-2, HT-2 toxin, zearalenone (ZEN), fumonisins (FUM), and emerging mycotoxins.

Contrarily, many regions such as southern Hungary are experiencing very hot and dry weather, which is ideal for Aspergillus flavus​, a producer of aflatoxins. Similarly, Spain is very hot and dry, and as in previous years, a high incidence and significant levels of aflatoxins are expected.

In 2024 in the US, recent observations in the Midwest show promising corn crop conditions with regional variations. From Indianapolis to northern Illinois, the corn is progressing well, with most fields tasseled and ample rainfall. Northern Illinois into Iowa also looks good but with less tasseling and more maturity variation. Iowa and Minnesota show delayed maturity due to earlier wet weather.

Stay tuned for further updates on crop conditions and mycotoxin risks as the Harvest Analysis Program continues.

The different types of silage inoculants​

Based on the analysis above, Alltech’s experts can provide tailored advice on enhancing silage management, from harvesting and storage techniques to inoculant selection.

Even the best-managed silage can sometimes become spoiled or contaminated. An effective silage inoculant provides extra protection by enhancing the fermentation process, improving nutrient retention, and ensuring feed quality over time.

Silage inoculants come in three main types:

• Homofermentative inoculants​ Maximize dry matter and nutrient retention.
• Heterofermentative inoculants or those combined with salts​ Ideal for early opening or slow feed out, as they reduce heating despite lower dry matter retention.
• Combination inoculants​ Balance efficient fermentation, early opening and long-term stability.

With Alltech’s leading-edge Egalis® range of silage inoculants, fermentation is controlled by high-specification homolactic bacteria and broad-spectrum inhibitory salts. Egalis technologies include:

• Egalis ​Ferment​ Ideal for all forages, this solution harnesses the combined power of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum​ and Pediococcus pentosaceus​ to rapidly achieve a stable final pH, regardless of dry matter or buffering capacity.
• Egalis Rapid​ Designed for maize/corn and sorghum silage, Egalis Rapid employs Pediococcus pentosaceus​ and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus​ to drive lactic fermentation while maintaining dry matter and palatability.
• Egalis Stability​ Suitable for all forages, especially high-dry-matter silage at higher risk of heating, this technology uses Lactiplantibacillus plantarum​, Pediococcus pentosaceus​ and potassium sorbate to inhibit yeast and mold growth, bolstering silage stability during feeding.

Hunland Group: A firm focus on forage quality ​

Based in Hungary, Hunland Group is a global leader in livestock farming, managing 38,000 cattle, including fattening cattle, calves, dairy cows and breeding heifers. Committed to innovation and sustainability, Hunland Group leverages advanced farming techniques and partnerships with industry leaders like Alltech to enhance feed quality and efficiency.

Since implementing Egalis Ferment, Hunland has seen remarkable improvements in feed production efficiency and cost management. Simply by adding this one Alltech solution to preserve nutritional content and prevent losses, Hunland is creating significant cost savings.

“By achieving such high nutritional content in the product, we were able to reduce the cost of the feedstuff per unit, which is essential for us,” says Zoltán Guti, production director at Hunland. “We place a huge focus on this, aiming to store and preserve the feedstuff with high nutritional content with minimal losses. This helps to reduce the need for additional feed supplements in the total mixed ration (TMR), thereby reducing our costs and the cost per kilogram of feed for milk production.”

Insights on silage quality and harvest management​

Effective silage management is the cornerstone of maximizing feed efficiency and nutritional value. By meticulously overseeing each stage, farmers can significantly enhance their silage quality and overall farm productivity.

Alltech recognizes the need to holistically support producers, ensuring that animals receive the best nutrition every day. Programs and technologies such as mycotoxin testing, in vitro​ ration analysis, nutritional technologies and expert technical support combine to meet the growing demands of modern livestock production.

Find out more about Egalis and other Alltech solutions and services, or contact your local Alltech representative for farm-specific advice.

Author: ​Gordon Marley, global silage support, Alltech