But we can influence other things, such as:
• how we treat the soil before sowing
• what we do to prevent mould growth on the field
• which seeds we use and the quality of the seed

All of these factors determine the quality of the grain during harvest. For example if the soil is only treated very superficially, mould and mycotoxins from a previous crop could infect the next crop grown on the same field. Mould spores and mycotoxins, which have grown on the grain while in the field can be detrimental to the feeding value. We must remember that we can maintain the quality of the grain but we cannot improve the quality during storage.

But when we harvest good quality grain it is up to us to maintain that high value during storage. The first tool available for maintaining grain quality is to clean it thoroughly. During cleaning you remove all small particles from the raw material. These small particles can cause serious storage problems because they are often contaminated with mould spores and/or mycotoxines. When the small particles get into storage, mould spoilage can occur more easily and mycotoxines can get into the feed.

Trials have been conducted to see what affect cleaning has on animal performance. In a trial conducted in Germany, the grain was cleaned during harvesting and again shortly before grinding and mixing. The particles taken out during cleaning showed increased amounts of CFU's per gram of feed. The grain was fed to two groups of piglets. The group that received the double cleaned grain had a 10% higher daily growth rate and the average feed conversion ratio improved by 2%. This trial clearly showed the effects of cleaning grain before feeding.

Using mould inhibitors
Storing grain for a longer period like 2 months to a year the grain needs to be treated with a mould inhibitor like our ProSid® MI, or dried to a safe moisture level. Drying grain is a well-known method for making grain stable for storage, but it also has its drawbacks. The equipment is very expensive and intake of the grain takes a lot longer. This equipment is therefore often not owned by the farmer himself but requires him to take his grain elsewhere for processing. The equipment for treating grain with ProSid® MI is much less expensive and allows the farmer far greater flexibility.

Our ProSid® MI products are based on organic acids, which have a broad-ranging effect against mould. Furthermore most of our ProSid® MI products are buffered with ammonia to limit the undesired properties of the organic acids for the farmers. Farmers using undiluted propionic acid often tell us that they can hardly enter the storage facility right after dosing with acids because of the smell released. Propionic acid also causes problems with concrete floors, machinery is often corroded after using undiluted propionic acid and farmers need to take stringent safety precautions. Farmers who used our buffered ProSid® MI reacted very enthusiastically because of its reduced odor and because their machinery did not corrode after using our product.

The efficiency of ProSid® MI products is often tested. In our laboratory in Waspik we use sophisticated analyses for this based on CO2-production. This testing analyses the efficiency of our products under stressful circumstances. In the case of ProSid® MI products we test the efficiency on grain with an increased moisture level stored at a high temperature. The table below shows the effect of ProSid® MI 519. Clearly a higher moisture level gives a shorter storage time. By adding ProSid® MI 519 we were able to double the storage time of grain with the same high moisture level at a high temperature of 30° C.

Dosing mould inhibitors
Several factors are important when storing grain treated with ProSid® MI. During harvesting the moisture level must be checked regularly. The dosage level of the mould inhibitor needs to be adjusted to the moisture level of the harvested grain. The dosage rate must always be adjusted to the highest moisture level found when the grain is stored together. For good preservation it is important to spread the liquid well over the grain. This can be achieved by using a good dosing pump. Many mould inhibitors have different viscosity levels at different temperatures, so the output of the pump should be checked before using it on the day of harvesting. The ProSid® MI needs to be sprayed on the grain using at least two nozzles. The nozzles need to be fitted to an auger, which should be at least 4 meters long to ensure the grain is well covered with mould inhibitor.

In conclusion
The world will face new challenges over the next few decades. The world population will continue to grow up to the point where there is not enough land available to produce food for everybody if we do not increase efficiency. Preventing mould and its effects are an important aspect of these efficiency measures.

Moulds can be prevented by taking proper care of the field from before sowing until after harvesting. Drying the grain and using mould inhibitors are ways of preventing mould from growing during storage. Organic acid based mould inhibitors have proven effective time and time again and allow the farmer to be very flexible during harvesting. However, it is imperative that the product is applied correctly at the appropriate dosage levels.

For more detailed dosage advice please download Perstorp Performance Additives' ProSid® MI leaflet >>.