|
One of the best known and respected of all silage preservatives, Add-F, is now available in a non-corrosive formula from us, called Add-F NC (for non-corrosive).
Originally developed by BP forty years ago, Kemira Chemicals have now taken over production and have made it far safer by using their proven gaseous ammoniation buffering process to remove the adverse effects that the old Add-F had on machinery and skin.
Add-F NC is ideal for:
- All silages that are low in sugar and/or have a high nitrate level
- Wet and contaminated grass, often found in autumn third and fourth cuts
Add-F NC is 80% formic acid, known for many years as the most effective and rapid silage preservative. Formic acid treatment is often used as the benchmark when research scientists test the effectiveness of silage additives because of its known reliability and predictability. Unfortunately handling and corrosion problems have made it increasingly unpopular for farm use. Kemira has a good name for developing effective farmer and environmentally friendly products so we expect the new formulation to regain its former popularity.
|
|
Accepted practice for making good quality silage
- Aim for sugar content of around 3½%. Full fermentation will not be achieved with low sugars. Rye-grass has more sugar than clovers.
- Cutting grass too young (low sugar content), or insufficient wilt (to reduce water content) may create clamp instability. High N or cutting in dull weather also depresses sugar levels. Over-wilting will make consolidation in the clamp difficult. 12 hours in dry weather is ideal.
- Soil or manure contamination of cut grass will cause serious clostridia problems. Excess N will neutralise the acidity effects so cut no sooner than 50 days after N application. (In general allow 1 day for 2 units of N).
- Chop length. Cutting combines the sugars which are found inside the herbage cell with lactobacilli found on the surface so that fermentation can start. More chops, shorter length, means faster fermentation but the animal needs the correct fibre structure. The correct chop length is between 1 and 3 inches.
- Use an effective additive at the recommended application rates. For Add-F NC this is from 2½ litres to 5litres per tonne depending on crop condition and moisture content.
- Clean the clamp, fill quickly and consolidate well. Remember, the aim is to achieve a stable pH of around 4 as quickly as possible. Add-F NC will achieve this in around two days: farmers who rely on Mother Nature (no additive) will be fortunate to achieve a stable clamp in less than two weeks, and could lose 20% or more of the valuable nutrients that they are trying to preserve.
- Use new ClampFilm (click here) to provide an effective airtight seal.
|
|
