Lallemand Animal Nutrition has launched its new OxyBlock oxygen barrier silage film range at DairyTech, providing farmers with advanced options to protect their forage quality.

Lee Gresham, country manager for the UK and Ireland at Lallemand Animal Nutrition, says: “Just as a cork preserves wine, OxyBlock significantly reduces oxygen ingress (see table below), preserving the quality of silage and maintaining its nutritional value during storage.”

He explains that having the right oxygen barrier film can have a significant impact on herd performance.

“The risk of spoilage is higher around the peripheral areas of the clamp where air can penetrate, and feeding this spoiled silage can significantly impact livestock performance,” he says.

“Studies have shown that feeding just 4% of spoiled silage can reduce milk yield by up to 2.1 kg/cow/day[1].

“By using a high-quality, high oxygen barrier silage film, you can prevent this air ingress and ultimately this level of spoilage.”

He explains the new silage film range is the perfect complement to their crop- and condition-specific forage inoculant range.

“Having a good oxygen barrier is even more crucial for forage treated with inoculants, as you've already invested in creating the highest quality silage possible, so maintaining this during storage is vital to protect your investment,” he says.

The OxyBlock range is available in two variants to suit different farming needs:

• OxyBlock Prime: A 45µ flexible oxygen barrier film containing EVOH[2] technology, which offers high resistance, is lightweight, and clings to the silage surface. OxyBlock Prime also offers 60% less plastic usage compared to traditional silage films. An anti UV cover is needed on top of this system.
•  OxyBlock Ultra: A heavy-duty 90µ film containing EVOH² designed for demanding environments, OxyBlock Ultra uses advanced 11-layer technology to provide superior oxygen barrier performance and UV resistance. Ideal for farms looking for premium silage protection, this all-in-one combined cling film and top sheet is perfect for multi cut systems where the covers need to be removed and reapplied.

Both variants are made from materials that are 100% recyclable.

To find out more about the OxyBlock range, please speak to your local regional business manager, or contact them here: https://bit.ly/4bzeTor

Table

*method DIN53380

[1] Confirmed by several authors: Hoffman e Ocker, 1997; Trevisiet al., 2003; Berger and Bolsen, 2006; Gerlach et al., 2013; Santos et al., 2014.

[2] EVOH = ethylene vinyl alcohol. When comparing polymers side by side, EVOH decreases oxygen permeability by a factor of over 4,500:1 compared to standard polyethylene. When incorporated as a layer in OxyBlock, the reduction factor is over 100:1