{"id":231715,"date":"2025-01-21T13:13:29","date_gmt":"2025-01-21T12:13:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ew-nutrition.com\/?p=231715"},"modified":"2025-01-29T09:17:17","modified_gmt":"2025-01-29T08:17:17","slug":"biostabil-plus-improves-grass-silage-quality-and-cattle-profitability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ew-nutrition.com\/us\/biostabil-plus-improves-grass-silage-quality-and-cattle-profitability\/","title":{"rendered":"BioStabil Plus improves grass silage quality and cattle profitability"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Dr. Vesna Jenkins<\/strong>, Global Product Manager, EW Animal Care<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Making silage enables the farmer to store forage, providing a cost-effective feed when required. From silage making through to feeding out, however, the challenge is to ensure that valuable dry matter, energy and protein are not lost. Any losses would require supplementation from other sources at extra cost. In the case of protein, farmers would need to purchase additional soybean meal, for example, to maintain cow productivity.<\/p>\n

Clostridia:<\/strong> The Main Villain<\/strong><\/h1>\n

One of the greatest challenges to making good silage is the presence of Clostridia <\/strong>bacteria, which can negatively impact animal health, performance and profitability. These bacteria pose a health risk to both beef and dairy cattle and can negatively influence cheese quality through the late blowing defect.<\/p>\n

During the ensiling process, Clostridia break down protein, reducing silage nutritional value, and produce butyric acid, which decreases silage palatability and affects feed intake. Clostridia can easily enter through soil contamination and thrive in forage with low dry matter, high buffering capacity, or lower levels of soluble carbohydrates and nitrate.<\/p>\n

Negative impacts of Clostridia<\/strong><\/h2>\n