Jul 27, 2020, 10:00 AM

Using Silo Maxx with Corn Silage

When it comes to corn chopping and ensiling, good producers generally use an inoculant to enhance forage quality and reduce storage loss. However, some growers use no forage inoculant because they don’t see the value of such. If a forage inoculant like Silo Maxx can save five percent in forage loss from storage, quality preservation and lower feed out loss, it may be worth the cost of application. Silo Maxx can be used on corn for silage, high moisture corn and alfalfa or other forages that are fermented for storage.

Factors to Consider

Why use Silo Maxx?

  • Increase initial rate of fermentation.
  • Reduce spoilage of forage such as molds or butyric acid.
  • Lower pH faster to help in the fermentation process.
  • Decrease heating process during feed out.
  • Less animal refusal.

What makes Silo Maxx better?

  • Three different sets of bacteria that speed production of lactic acid.
  • More dry matter recovery due to less or no CO2, ethanol or acetic acid production.
  • Lactobacillus buchneri takes 40 to 60 days to substantially improve bunk life.
  • Slower initial heating and faster decline in temperature to minimize losses.
  • Three different enzymes that support forage quality improvement.
  • Antioxidants that support arriving at the anaerobic stage faster.
  • Food grade preservatives to minimize spoilage.

Conditions when using silage inoculants are very important:

  • If corn gets too dry on the range of proper moisture (generally below 60% moisture).
  • When chopping corn that has been killed by a frost.

Action Plan

  1. Monitor corn drydown and ensure chopping when corn is between 60 and 70 percent moisture. When corn gets too dry, it does not ferment as well and requires more inoculant.
  2. Consider what formulation is best for your operation. Options include dry 25 lb. bags for powder form of application, or water-soluble packets to be dissolved and used in liquid applications at harvest.
  3. For corn silage, the dry formulation rate is ½ lb. Silo Maxx per ton of silage when corn is between 60 and 70 percent moisture (one bag treats about 50 tons). For the water-soluble Silo Maxx, a small packet is 100 grams, which treats about 50 tons. A large water-soluble packet is 500 grams and both sizes should be stored in refrigerated conditions until use.
  4. The best distribution of Silo Maxx is to apply it while chopping. It can also be applied at the bunker, pile, while unloading at the bagger, or blowing into the silo.

SiloMaxx chart

Summary

Inoculants play a strong roll in helping preserve the feed volume and value of your harvested silage. Silo Maxx forage inoculant is a cut above the industry because it has three groups of bacteria offer a better range of fermentation as well as hasten the process. Additionally, Silo Maxx provides enzymes, antioxidants, and preservatives to support forage quality and reduce spoilage when feeding.

Some may state that an inoculant containing Lactobacillus buchneri is better. Silo Maxx is a homofermenter, whereas L. buchneri is a heterofermenter. The advantage of a homofermenter is the rate of fermentation (faster) and the bacteria used do not produce CO2, ethanol or acetic acid. These products (CO2, ethanol, acetic acid) are either a source of dry matter loss or they are not completely fermented in the rumen.

For more information on Silo Maxx or to secure your order, contact your Legend Seeds representative.

Resources

Picking the Right Inoculant
Silage Inoculants: What the Research Tells Us About When and How to Use Them

Download Article PDF

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