Sovereign Project

Silage

The key to high-quality silage is having a rapid ensiling/ curing process and efficient fermentation of plant sugars to acetic acids initially and then into beneficial acids such as Lactic.  If the silage is compressed properly to remove as much air as possible, natural aerobic bacteria can only survive for a very short period of time reducing the amount of ammonia, heat produced and loss of protein.

Anaerobic bacteria then kicks in, producing lactic acid to preserve the crop and prevent aerobic bacteria (bad bacteria) from reducing feed value.  The pH is lowered until a stable level below pH4.0 to 3.5 is reached.  Higher feed values are maintained when a low pH is reached as quickly as possible.

When a pH of 4.0 to 3.5 is reached, it is then considered to be in a “stable zone”.  Due to “spoilage bacteria” (i.e. aerobic), protein losses will continue to occur until this pH level is reached and the silage stabilizes.

Silage inoculants such as Sovereign are designed to speed up the rate at which the pH drops, and to prevent the formation of ammonia, heat build-up, fungus and butyric acid.  As a result the pH at which protein losses cease and the pH, at which the “stable zone” is reached, occurs much more rapidly.

Hay

Hay is different to silage as it is baled at significantly lower moisture levels (generally below 20%).  This inhibits the ability for hay to ensile as silage does and therefore the production of beneficial acids for an enhanced breakdown of plant material is also inhibited.  However, palatability & digestion when the hay is fed out is often improved.

Antioxidants in Sovereign stop moulds, yeasts and harmful bacteria from being active, reducing heat build-up and protein losses that would normally occur under higher moisture conditions.  It is these simple moulds and yeasts that cause significant damage to hay including darkening, mustiness and even spontaneous heat combustion.

You will benefit from the simple fact that you can bale at a moisture level range of 20% to 28% with confidence that the aerobic bacteria will not cause spoilage as it will with untreated hay.

You can be confident that the hay quality will be enhanced due to increased leaf retention, your baling “window of opportunity” increased and your valuable time managed more efficiently.

Using a product such as Sovereign, you can bale with consistently higher moisture, confident that you have fresh, high-quality hay.  You will retain more leaves, the feed will be more palatable and digestible and the nutrient value often higher with increased protein and higher net energy content.