bonsilage PLUS reduces the purchase of concentrated feed
Results from the University of Hohenheim confirm the effectiveness of bonsilage PLUS. In order to meet the crude protein requirements of a high-performance cow, the amount of unprocessed protein (UDP) must increase. bonsilage PLUS improves the protein quality of grass silage and increases the amount of UDP. This allows for savings in protein feed.
During the ensiling process, there are many degradation and conversion processes of the plant protein (proteolysis). This reduces the amount of UDP and creates non-protein nitrogen compounds (NPN). This leads to an N surplus in the rumen. The liver has to detoxify part of this via urea, which can lead to animal health problems.
Clostridia also break down protein. However, these can be suppressed by special lactic acid bacteria. bonsilage silage additives contain lactic acid bacteria that quickly lower the pH value, leaving less time for pH-dependent fermentation pests to break down plant protein.
Better protein quality with bonsilage PLUS
The University of Hohenheim, in collaboration with the Lower Saxony Chamber of Agriculture, examined untreated and bonsilage PLUS-treated grass silage using the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) in order to make statements about protein fractionation. In this system, crude protein is divided into protein fractions, which differ primarily in their degradation rate. A stands for NPN compounds, i.e. ‘non-protein’ nitrogen compounds such as free amino acids, amines, nitrogenous acids and bases, and urea, which are very quickly broken down into ammonia in the rumen. Ammonia, in turn, is a cell toxin and is therefore converted into urea in the liver. This puts a heavy strain on the liver. The B fraction stands for degradable pure protein. Fraction C comprises the cell wall-bound proteins, i.e. those that cannot be broken down by rumen microbes. For the experiment, grass silage from the first cut was divided into three dry matter levels (20-30% DM, 30-40% DM and 40-50% DM) and two fertiliser variants (25 m³ slurry + 100 kg KAS and 25 m³ slurry + 250 kg KAS), each with and without silage additives. The silage was then analysed for crude nutrients, fermentation qualities and protein fractionation.
The silages treated with bonsilage PLUS achieved an average DLG score of 99.5 (out of a possible 100), compared to 71.3 points for untreated silages. The NPN compounds (fraction A), which are quickly converted to ammonia in the rumen, were significantly reduced in the silage treated with silage additives, while fraction B, which belongs to pure protein, was significantly higher (see figure 1).
Advantages of using silage additives
The silage has a lower RNB balance and reduces the burden on the liver. The higher UDP content in grass silage means that concentrated feed purchases can be reduced. For example, grass silage containing 4% more UDP can save 200 g of purchased protein feed such as soya or rapeseed meal per animal per day (see Fig 2).
Other positive effects of using silage additives include lower dry matter losses and higher digestibility of the silage.
