March 11, 2014
Addcon successfully registers corn silage inoculant in China
Addcon, an expert in the field of silage and feed preservation in Europe, announces the successful registration of its corn silage inoculant, Kofasil S with China''s ministry of agriculture.
Achieving maximum milk yield from healthy ruminants requires sources of the highest quality roughage feed, so the basic fodder to be used, such as corn (whole crop) and green forage (grass and leguminous herbage), have to be protected against spoilage over a long period. This helps to preserve their original feed properties. Ensiling minimises nutrient losses and therefore maximises milk output from fodder.
To treat different crops under different ensiling conditions, Addcon has brought another key biological additive to China – Kofasil S. It is a heterofermentative bacterial preparation for improving the aerobic stability of silage.
After a series of tests on efficacy and safety, processes of strict inspection and expertise assessment, Kofasil S has been successfully registered with China''s ministry of agriculture. It is the first approved Lactobacillus buchneri product to be used as silage additive (heterofermentative) in China (according to the newly issued Feed Register 2013).
This selected non-GM strain of the lactic acid bacteria Lactobacillus buchneri has been proven in many studies to be effective in preserving the quality of corn silage.
In addition to lactic acid, this strain also produces a certain amount of acetic acid, which inhibits yeasts and moulds. This improves the storage life of silage kept in non-airtight conditions, where heating on exposure could occur without the use of additives. DLG''s (German Agricultural Society) recommendations and guidelines also state that the microbiological inoculant is an effective alternative to chemical additives used in in corn silage.
Combining protein-rich silages (e.g. alfalfa) with those rich in starch or energy (e.g. corn) is necessary for balanced four-seasonal nutrition. It is also an important precondition for fully utilising the basal metabolic capacity of the digestive system of high performance cows. Thus the widespread cultivation of basic protein-rich forages such as alfalfa and the minimisation of losses during its preservation not only provide significant profits for pasture and husbandry, but also ecological advantages in terms of resource utilisation.
However, alfalfa is mainly harvested during the wet or rainy seasons, making wilting, storage, preservation and ensiling very difficult. To rectify this and prevent protein losses from alfalfa or clover silage, Addcon is introducing another product to China- Kofasil Alfa.
It helps to optimise the fermentation process from the beginning, suppress undesirable micro-organisms such as Clostridia, Listeria and Enterobacter, kill existing Clostridia spores to prevent the formation of butyric acid and avoid protein degradation to ensure milk quality.
Kofasil Lac will also be introduced as a complementary bacterial preparation for improving fermentation quality in silage made from grass and leguminous plants. This inoculant contains two isolated or selected homofermentative strains of the lactic acid bacteria Lactobacillus plantarum, with high osmotolerance, rapid growth rate and intensive lactic acid formation.
As a "Green Chemistry" solution, Maize Kofasil Liquid has made a major contribution to the conservation of corn silage. It is effective in reducing energy loss, helps to avoid mal-fermentation due to mould and yeasts, and safeguards the quality of feedstuffs. Its application has repeatedly proven toimprove overall performance of dairy cows since it was launched in the Chinese market five years ago.