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October 22, 2020

Why does grass silage need inoculant?  

Last season was a challenging season for many, with very wet conditions in some areas and extremely dry conditions in others. Grass silage demand soared, and in most cases there was not enough feed to go around. Now that we have an opportunity to replenish our supply of grass silage, it is a good time […]

Forage
October 22, 2020

Managing Air and Heating for Quality Silage 

Silage quality is made up of not just the nutritional quality of the crop when it is cut, but also the fermentation and hygienic quality. Managing air is a critical step in reducing damage and losses in silage caused by these ‘bad bugs’ or spoilage organisms that thrive on air. Getting rid of the air […]

Forage, Publications
July 7, 2020

On Farm Field Days: Making the most of on farm feeds

Nutritech hosted a series of local field days to help drought-stricken farmers make the most of their on-farm feeds. Consulting nutritionist and silage specialist Trish Lewis, East Coast Area Manager Christian Muller and Waikato/BOP Area Manager Stu Lister hosted a series of informative silage field days for farmers in their area. Trish Lewis talking to [...]
Forage
July 7, 2020

Nutritech and Dunstan Nutrition – A Natural Collaboration

With both brands being synonymous with quality, a collaboration between the two companies was a natural fit in the premium equine space. Martin Blampied from Dunstan Nutrition says “through our partnership with Nutritech we can produce the best feeds for the health and well-being of every New Zealand horse from foals to yearlings, racehorses through [...]
Equine, Forage, Miscellaneous
October 15, 2017

In a Pickle with High Acetic Acid Silages

The goal of ensiling a forage crop is to conserve as much as possible of the nutrient and dry matter (DM) content in the crop at the time of harvest. Lallemand Animal Nutrition specialists say the ensiling process is actually quite simple: Chopped forage is packed in a pit to exclude the air, lactic acid [...]
Forage, Publications
September 8, 2017

Nutritional Impacts of the Wet Weather

As we navigate another period of wet weather, there are some key points which we must keep in mind as we head into the new season. When grass gets covered in soil and dirt it leaves deposits of Ash and specific metals which can cause problems. Any pastures that have flooded or had lying water, [...]
Beef, Dairy, Deer, Forage
March 6, 2017

Silage Inoculants for Maize & Whole Crop Silages

Last month’s article considered principles and techniques for making high quality maize and whole crop silages, including the use of appropriate inoculants. The preference until fairly recently was to rely on homofermentative lactic acid producing bacterial inoculants, due to lactic being a strong acid so aiding rapid fermentation thus lower dry matter losses than untreated [...]
Forage, Publications
February 1, 2017

Ensiling Maize & Whole Crop Cereals

Silage making is about preserving as much high quality forage as possible, especially when grown on one’s own farm, as it is a major contributor to farm profitability. This starts with harvesting the crop at its optimum quality and yield, retaining as much of it as possible, and feeding it out efficiently by minimising losses [...]
Forage, Publications
November 1, 2016

Making & Feeding Quality Forage – Return on Investment

It is important to include fixed (land, interest) and variable (seed, fertiliser, sprays) costs in growing and harvesting pasture or crops to properly evaluate cost benefits of using inoculants when preserving forages. Effective lactic acid producing inoculants have been demonstrated, in controlled trials, to reduce dry matter losses by 5->10%, under good ensiling conditions.  Inoculant [...]
Forage, Publications
October 1, 2016

Making & Feeding Quality Forage – Tools

Last month’s article covered some key aspects of the ensiling process.  This month will consider some tools to assist in ensuring the best possible preservation.  Two of the key principles mentioned last month were, achieving the fastest fermentation to preserve as much forage as possible, and achieving anaerobic conditions by preventing oxygen leaking into the [...]
Forage, Publications