By David Teran, Technical Sales Manager

As I watch many farmers dealing with variable conditions this season, I’ve noticed a concerning trend of increased soil contamination in silage. This isn’t just about dirty feed – it’s seriously impacting your bottom line through reduced quality, compromised animal welfare, and diminished performance.

When soil gets into your silage, clostridia, an anaerobic bacteria, thrive in those oxygen-free environments. These anaerobes break down protein in your forages and can create biogenic amines. Silage that not only smells and looks unappealing but actively discourages your cows from eating their full ration, significantly lowering your production numbers. 

 

Soil contamination in silage leads to several critical issues: 

  • Clostridia Proliferation: These soil-introduced bacteria break down valuable proteins, producing substances that make silage unpalatable to livestock 
  • Reduced Nutritional Value: The protein breakdown diminishes essential nutrients, compromising animal performance and health 
  • Increased Spoilage: Contamination accelerates degradation, increasing risks of mold and harmful microorganisms 
  • Economic Impact: The resulting poor-quality silage increases your per-cow feed costs as you’ll need additional supplements to compensate for lost nutrients 

 

Farms that have successfully overcome this challenge have used MAGNIVA inoculants to control fermentation and minimize spoilage. The MAGNIVA ranges promotes lactic acid bacteria growth during fermentation, rapidly dropping pH levels to inhibit harmful bacteria such as clostrida from growing in the silage 

While we can’t control the weather, we absolutely can manage the fermentation process. For your subsequent cuts, I strongly recommend using additives to protect silage quality and animal health. Yes, additives represent an additional cost, but they’re far more economical than dealing with spoilage and contamination that drive up your per-cow feed costs. 

Beyond inoculants, consider these practical techniques, to help reduce clostridial silage: 

  • Adjust your cutting head according to ground conditions – set it higher when soil is soft 
  • Extend wilting times for drier silage, reducing clostridia’s opportunity to flourish 
  • Ensure your bunker is thoroughly cleaned before storing fresh silage 

By implementing these straightforward strategies, you’ll maintain silage quality, protect your herd’s health, and maximize performance.