Benefits of Optimize Plus

Leading to increased appetite, rumen function, feed value and milk yield

Better storage stability & reduced heating problems
Improved bunk life with minimal nutrient losses
Low acid silage that is more palatable
Reduced spoilage costs
Optimal feed efficiency
Increased milk yield & quality
Reduced dry matter losses

Silage treated with Optimize contains low levels of lactic acid, reduced spoilage organisms and waste whilst having high plant sugar and protein levels.

When the silage reaches the rumen (which has a pH of 6.4) the dormant Bacillus spores become activated and produce digestive enzymes which further aid the breakdown of the cows diet. Due to this overall increase in nutrient availability, there is more absorbence into the intestine which subsequently results in better milk production, calf production, fertility and resistance to diseases.

So why use Optimize silage additive?

To drop the plant pH from 7 - 4 rapidly. This preserves the grass nutrients and only encourages desirable bacteria in the pit.
A rapid biological drop in pH helps preserve the protein in a form very available to the cow, keeping it in a similar form to grass protein.
The ensiled crop doesn't shrink as much if it is stabilised fast and contains more plant juices. Therefore more preserved nutrients are available at feed out.
Not all additives contain yeast and mould inhibitors. This is usually an essential ingredient to give stability at feed out which improves intake, digestibility and utilisation of the silage.
Solution inoculants for all forage types and weather conditions.

Forage Types

Due to the microbial content of Optimize, it can be applied to grass, whole crop and maize ideally at 2lts/tonne or less if desired. Furthermore, this silage inoculant works on the wettest or the driest of crops.

All the issues which apply to preserving Grass silage also apply to Maize, Whole Crop and all other ensiled crops. Therefore, the action of Optimize Plus is just as relevent on any crop which can be clamped and fermented. It is the viability of the bacillus and the effectiveness of the enzymes which determine the results along with high standards of silage making practice.

Grass

A key feature of Optimize and Optimize Plus treated silage is the reduction in the dwell time of the forage in the rumen (lag time). An ideal rumen throughput to maximise absorption of nutrients from silage is 3-3.5 hours.

Analysis consistently shows improved "lag time" after use of this silage additive and a faster more effective fermentation of the NDF by rumen bacteria is achieved. This faster throughput is reflected in the Dry Matter intakes. The higher nutrient density, in the silage (ME and CP) also means less need for bought in concentrate.

Maize

Cobs should be mature before harvesting
Dry matter of whole plant before between 29% and 34%
Dry matter of the grain between 56% and 60%
Chop length 5 to 8 mm
Keep clamp closed for 60 days

Bioparametrics, Dr Roy Fawcett explains how by opening up the structure of NDF in the maize, higher fermentable NDF is achieved resulting in better appetites and intakes. He comments:

“Our research has shown that specific enzyme treatment to maize crops opens up the structure of the fibre so that the microbes can do their work faster. NDF normally digests at 5% per hour, but where the correct enzymes are present within the forage the rate of degradation can be doubled... The art of ration balancing is not simply about getting the proportions of energy and protein correct but maintaining the pH at a high level. The difference in a rumen pH of 5.8 and one of 6.6 is equivalent to 3.5 litres of milk per cow per day.”

Therefore, with a herd of 180 cows this would produce an extra 630 litres of milk per day.

Whole Crop

Cereal, wheat, barley, oats of triticle can be fermented.
Fermented whole crop 35% - 45% DM (Chop length should be 2.5cm)
High Dry matter fermented whole crop 45-75% DM (Chop length should be 10-30cm
Keep clamp closed for 60 days