Welcome rain boosts prospects for silage

April 2021 has gone down in the history books as the driest spring month on record.

However, the heavy rain which marked the beginning of May will, undoubtedly, boost grass growth across Northern Ireland.

This, in turn, should see large numbers of livestock farmers and contractors making first cut silage over the coming days and weeks.

While the rains may have returned, the continuing downside for those wishing to make high quality silage over the coming days is the unseasonably cool temperatures. Many places across Northern Ireland have experienced penetrating night frosts over recent nights.

Bio-Sil's Frank Foster out on farm with Co Armagh beef finisher Joe McCarragher earlier this week.Bio-Sil's Frank Foster out on farm with Co Armagh beef finisher Joe McCarragher earlier this week.
Bio-Sil's Frank Foster out on farm with Co Armagh beef finisher Joe McCarragher earlier this week.

Grass testing has confirmed that sugar concentrations in forages are extremely low at the present time while protein levels remain high. Such circumstances will pose particular challenges when it comes to securing the required lactic acid-based fermentation in pits during those critically important days, post ensiling.

However, the good news is that the start of the 2021 silage season has been marked by the launch of a new inoculant, Bio-Sil, here in Northern Ireland. It has been proven to work equally well in improving the quality of both grass and crop silages.

Bio-Sil has a 30-year history of proven, on-farm use in Europe. In addition, extensive research and trial work has confirmed the benefits of using the inoculant to deliver improved forage quality.

Bio-Sil represents an extremely effective source of the Lactobacillus plantar, the bacterium that has been proven over many years to drive the fermentation pathways that deliver optimal silage quality under the grassland management and ensiling conditions that prevail in Northern Ireland.

Bio-Sil’s Frank Foster takes up the story:“Bio- Sil ensures the excellent preservation of the grass due to the rapid drop in of pH level that is achieved within the first two to three days after ensiling. The inoculant, with its special blend of live lactic acid producing bacteria, has the ability to maximise silage quality.

“This high level of lactic acid also helps to reduce waste in the silo both during the fermentation and once the silo is opened.”

He continued:“It all adds up to more milk, improved milk quality and enhanced daily liveweight gains when Bio-Sil treated silages are offered to cattle of all ages.”

He added:“Bio-Sil also represents tremendous value-for-money in terms of delivering improved performance from forage on all dairy and livestock farms.”

Frank made these comments while visiting the Co Armagh farm of Joe McCarragher, who finishes 100 cattle per year and runs a 450-strong breeding ewe flock.

“I take three cuts of silage each year. The cold, dry conditions of late held back grass growth.” Joe explained. “However, the rain has now arrived and the plan is to take the first cut around May 10th.

“Making high quality silage is a priority for the business. I will be using Bio-Silo during the 2021 silage season.”

Joe’s commitment to making high quality silage over many years has not gone unnoticed. He has been a regular winner of his local Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) beef and sheep silage competition. And, on two occasions, he went on to secure runner-up accolade in the Northern Ireland UFU Beef and Sheep silage competition.

Bio-Sil has been officially approved by the German Agricultural Society (DLG) to improve fermentation in a wide range of forages while also boosting forage digestibility and milk yield.

Frank Foster again:“Trials have confirmed that Bio-Sil acts to reduce dry matter losses; reduce protein degradation; increase energy concentration; increase forage digestibility while also improving forage intakes by between 0.5 and 1.5kgs per day. The end result is an improved milk output of up to two litres per cow per day.”

He continued:“Bio-Sil treated forages can be fed out as soon as seven days after the ensiling process has taken place.

“Bio-Sil is available in powder form and comes in 100g sachets. The inoculant is easily dissolvable in water and can be applied using a standard liquid applicator. Each sachet contains enough inoculant to treat 100 tonnes of forage.”

Frank Foster concluded:“In the right conditions, Bio-Sil will remain active for 72 hours after mixing. This is another benefit of the inoculant: providing flexibility if the harvest process is halted because of bad weather or a mechanical breakdown.”

For further information, contact Frank Foster on 07841 954328.