Silage and rumen function: Key strategies for successful backgrounding of beef cattle

The provision of quality silage and optimising cattle rumen function can maximise livestock performance during the background phase.

Toowoomba-based technical services manager, Jordan Minniecon, says backgrounding is a proven method of transitioning grassfed cattle to a high energy ration.

“Young cattle are typically introduced to grain, hay and straw in preparation for the finishing,” he says.
“However, silage is often favoured as a part of a background ration.

“As with any feeding program, the provision of quality fodder will pay dividends in terms of livestock health and performance.

“Producing and feeding silage is a significant but rewarding task – there is little room for skimping.

“The most important objective is to reduce exposure to oxygen, which is the enemy of silage in all aspects of silage making and feeding.

“Oxygen can slow down the ensiling fermentation and allow spoilage organisms to grow.

“This can result in lost dry matter and nutrients and significantly impact livestock health and performance.”

Strain-specific inoculants, which contain L.buchenri 40788 and the newly-discovered and patented L.hilgardii CNCM I-4785, can ensure a fast, efficient fermentation and aerobic stability throughout storage and feeding out, minimising dry matter loss and spoilage.

Most grain silages becomes more digestible as storage time increases.

Long-term storage gives the ensiling process time to break down proteins in the kernel that form a matrix with starch.

“If possible, keep forages ensiled for a minimum of five months to allow the natural ensiling process to improve starch digestibility,” Jordan says.

“Spoiled silage can sometimes be noticed on the top and sides of the bunker after opening.

“It is best to use Silostop oxygen barrier film to avoid any risk of air entry and spoiled silage right from the start.

“It is important to avoid the temptation to feed this spoiled silage.

“The ingestion of even small amounts of spoiled silage can disrupt normal rumen function and can lead to reduced feed intake, digestibility and decreased production.”

Jordan also recommends that background cattle are supplied a microbial feed additive to optimise rumen function as energy intake increases.

“An efficient rumen is the foundation for healthy, productive cattle,” he says.

“The rumen microbial population digests and ferments 70 to 80 percent of the animal’s feed.

“Without these microbes, cattle cannot digest fibrous feeds, especially forages.

“Helping stabilise the rumen environment can lead to more consistent and efficient production benefits.

“Probiotics are one way producers can achieve these results.”

LEVUCELL SC is the only strain-specific dry yeast that has an FDA-approved functionality claim for maintaining cellulolytic bacteria population in the rumen of animals fed greater than 50 percent concentrate.

“Put simply, this means specific probiotics in starter and growing diets can help the rumen mature and optimise the organ’s function,” Jordan says.

“In some cases, producers have been able to use lower-quality forage and achieve improved performance by making nutrients more available to the animal.

“This is particularly important for producers grazing cattle on late-season forages, which can have fewer nutrients.”

” Think of it as getting more km’s from the same tank of fuel.”

Six tips for improving silage quality