August 23, 2011

Latest trial confirms that Schaumann's Bonsilage CCM ensures outstanding aerobic stability

The efficacy of Schaumann's Bonsilage CCM was confirmed in a trial at Haus Riswick experimental farm where CCM was treated with various silage additives and then ensiled over a 90-day period with fermentation acid levels, and aerobic stability measured. 

Some variants were treated with a number of commercially available acid blends on the basis of propionic acid, formic acid or sodium benzoate (4-5 l/t silage). The only biological variant applied in the trial was Bonsilage CCM (1 g/t silage) which comprises a combination of homo- and heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria.

The results indicated that using the blends based on propionic acid with its strong preservative action resulted, on the whole, in a slight inhibition of plant sugar conversion to fermentation acids/propandiol. On the other hand, applying Bonsilage CCM resulted in easily the highest amount of total fermentation acid/propandiol production.

All products tested proved efficient in establishing aerobic stability with time required almost doubled from 11 to 21 days whereby both the biological additive and the chemical variants achieved the same value and, with that, best possible efficacy in improving aerobic stability.

Treatment costs were between EUR4.00 (US$5.76) and EUR6.00 (US$8.63) per tonne of silage for the acid-based variants while Bonsilage CCM scored top marks in this respect costing only approximately EUR1.20/t (US$1.73) silage. Correctly applied, i.e. in 65% DM CCM over a sufficient ensiling period of at least two months, Bonsilage CCM (DLG quality certificate WR2) proved itself as an economical, user-friendly and non-corrosive CCM preservative.