# Liquid biopreparations for silage Liquid lactic-acid-bacteria inoculants applied at ensiling to preserve forage — homofermentative Lactobacillus plantarum for a fast pH drop and heterofermentative L. buchneri for aerobic stability, cutting dry-matter loss, heating and mycotoxin risk across maize, grass and whole-crop cereal silage. Source: https://en.bioecon.ru/technology/silage-biopreparations/ Updated: 2026-08-18 ## Overview and value chain Markers: [EC: EU Feed Additives Regulation 1831/2013 & Farm to Fork | OECD: Agricultural Biotechnology | Regulator: EFSA (EU), FDA-CVM (USA), MoA (China)] Liquid biopreparations for silage are water-soluble lactic-acid-bacteria inoculants sprayed onto forage at harvest to drive a fast, controlled fermentation that preserves dry matter, protein and energy. Homofermentative Lactobacillus plantarum strains such as Volac's MTD/1 and Chr. Hansen's CH6072 drop pH rapidly to lock in nutrients, while heterofermentative Lactobacillus buchneri strains such as Volac's PJB/1 produce acetic acid that suppresses yeasts and molds and keeps the silo cool after feed-out. Modern multi-strain products combine both — Chr. Hansen's SiloSolve AS pairs Enterococcus faecium M74 with L. plantarum CH6072 and L. buchneri LB1819 — and a 100 g sachet of Biomin's BIO-SIL treats 100 tonnes of fresh forage, with feed-out possible from about day 7. The category serves maize, grass, legume and whole-crop cereal silage across the dairy and beef sectors. The key directions of liquid silage biopreparations are: 1. **Homofermentative LAB inoculants (Homofermentative LAB Inoculants):** Lactobacillus plantarum (Volac MTD/1, Chr. Hansen CH6072) that ferment sugars to lactic acid for a rapid pH drop and dry-matter preservation. 2. **Heterofermentative LAB inoculants (Heterofermentative LAB Inoculants):** Lactobacillus buchneri (Volac PJB/1) that produces acetic acid to inhibit yeasts and molds and extend aerobic stability after the silo opens. 3. **Multi-strain combination inoculants (Multi-Strain Combination Inoculants):** homo- plus heterofermentative blends (Chr. Hansen SiloSolve AS, Biomin BioStabil HC) that pair fast fermentation with spoilage protection. 4. **Liquid formulation and application (Liquid Formulation & Application):** water-soluble, freeze-dried-to-liquid products dosed via liquid applicators at chopping, with 48-hour tank-mix stability (Volac Ecosyl). ### Sectoral value chain ``` [strain isolation] ──> [biomass fermentation] ──> [formulation] ──> [ensiling application] │ (drive forage fermentation) │ ▼ [feed-out delivery] <─── [fermentation monitoring] <─────┘ ``` ### Value chain levels | Level | Description | Key inputs/outputs | |:---|:---|:---| | **Strain Isolation** | isolate and screen lactic-acid bacteria from forage and ensiling environments | **In:** forage samples, ensiled material. **Out:** candidate LAB strains. | | **Biomass Fermentation** | scale the selected strain to high cell counts in a fermenter | **In:** starter culture, growth media. **Out:** concentrated cell broth. | | **Formulation** | stabilize as freeze-dried powder or liquid with carriers and protectants | **In:** cell broth, maltodextrin carriers. **Out:** water-soluble product. | | **Ensiling Application** | spray the liquid inoculant onto forage at chopping via a liquid applicator | **In:** product, water, forage. **Out:** inoculated forage. | | **Fermentation Monitoring** | track pH drop, lactic/acetic acid and microbial profile through ensiling | **In:** silo samples, sensors. **Out:** fermentation indices. | | **Feed-out Delivery** | manage aerobic stability and mycotoxin risk as the silo is opened | **In:** opened silo, feed-out rate. **Out:** stable, high-value ration. | Cross-cutting technologies of the sector: - **Homofermentative L. plantarum (Homofermentative L. plantarum):** fast lactic-acid fermentation for a rapid pH drop (to about 3.7–4.0) and dry-matter preservation. - **Heterofermentative L. buchneri (Heterofermentative L. buchneri):** acetic-acid production that suppresses yeasts and molds and extends aerobic stability after feed-out. - **Freeze-dried-to-liquid formulation (Freeze-Dried-to-Liquid Formulation):** stable powder reconstituted with water for liquid application, with 24–48 hour tank-mix life and 24–36 month shelf life. --- ## US The US forage and dairy industry drives large-scale maize-silage demand, served by domestic animal-nutrition firms and North American operations of the global inoculant leaders. ### Kem LAC inoculants, maize-silage demand, FDA-CVM feed regulation - **Kemin:** an Iowa-based animal-nutrition company supplying silage inoculants (Kem LAC line) built on Lactobacillus and Lacticaseibacillus strains that improve the fermentation and aerobic stability of maize silage. - **North American inoculant operations:** Lallemand's Canadian/U.S. operations market the Lalsil and Sil-All inoculant lines (L. plantarum plus L. buchneri) to dairy and beef producers across the Corn Belt. - **FDA-CVM framing:** the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine regulates feed additives, while forage and dairy extension programs drive inoculant adoption against dry-matter and mycotoxin losses. --- ## CN China, the world's largest dairy and forage producer after the US, is scaling silage-inoculant use as modern dairy farms shift to total-mixed-ration feeding. ### dairy-driven silage-inoculant market, corn silage, MoA feed-additive framework - **Dairy-driven demand:** industry analyses project continued growth in China's 青贮饲料添加剂 (silage feed additive) and 青贮饲料接种剂 (silage inoculant) markets through 2026-2032, pulled by large dairy and beef operations adopting maize and whole-plant corn silage. - **Forage base:** whole-plant corn and grass silage dominate, with growing use of microbial inoculants to curb spoilage in warm, humid ensiling conditions. - **MoA framework:** microbial silage inoculants register under the Ministry of Agriculture's feed-additive/biological-input track, framing the route to market for domestic and imported products. --- ## EU The EU is the heartland of silage-inoculant science and industry, with the leading cultures firms and a rigorous feed-additive authorization framework. ### SiloSolve / BIO-SIL / Ecosyl cultures, EU Feed Additives Regulation, EFSA - **Chr. Hansen (Denmark):** the SiloSolve AS multi-strain inoculant pairs Enterococcus faecium M74 with L. plantarum CH6072 and L. buchneri LB1819 for a faster pH drop, improved dry-matter preservation and reduced heating. - **Biomin (Austria):** BIO-SIL is a freeze-dried homofermentative inoculant (100 g treats 100 t of fresh forage, feed-out from about day 7), while BioStabil HC blends homo- and heterofermentative LAB for maize silage. - **Volac (UK):** Ecosyl uses the MTD/1 L. plantarum strain (1.28 oz/ton application, 36-month shelf life) and Ecocool adds the PJB/1 L. buchneri strain for high-risk forages prone to aerobic spoilage. - **EU Feed Additives Regulation:** microbial silage inoculants are authorized under Regulation (EU) 1831/2013 and assessed by EFSA before market entry. --- ## Leading companies and research institutes | Company / Institute | Country | Key products / platforms | Tech features | Status 2026 | |:---|:---|:---|:---|:---| | **Chr. Hansen** | 🇩🇰 Denmark | *SiloSolve AS silage inoculant* | E. faecium M74 + L. plantarum CH6072 + L. buchneri LB1819 | Commercial | | **Lallemand** | 🇫🇷 France | *Lalsil / Sil-All inoculants* | L. plantarum + L. buchneri blends | Commercial | | **Biomin** | 🇦🇹 Austria | *BIO-SIL / BioStabil HC* | freeze-dried, 100 g / 100 t forage, feed-out day 7 | Commercial | | **Volac** | 🇬🇧 UK | *Ecosyl / Ecocool* | MTD/1 (L. plantarum) + PJB/1 (L. buchneri), 36-mo shelf | Commercial | | **Kemin** | 🇺🇸 USA | *Kem LAC silage inoculants* | Lactobacillus / Lacticaseibacillus for maize silage | Commercial | --- ## Tech stack and innovations The stack pairs homofermentative fast-fermentation strains with heterofermentative stability strains in liquid, application-ready formulations. 1. **Homofermentative L. plantarum fermentation (Homofermentative L. plantarum Fermentation):** - Volac's MTD/1 and Chr. Hansen's CH6072 ferment forage sugars rapidly to lactic acid, dropping pH to about 3.7–4.0 to preserve dry matter and true protein. - Frontiers (2026) trials confirm L. plantarum consistently lifts fermentation quality and aerobic stability in whole-plant maize silage more than mixed Lactococcus treatments. 2. **Heterofermentative L. buchneri stability (Heterofermentative L. buchneri Stability):** - Volac's PJB/1 and Biomin's BioStabil HC produce acetic acid that inhibits the yeasts and molds responsible for heating and spoilage after the silo opens. - The result is longer aerobic stability, lower dry-matter losses and reduced mycotoxin risk in high-risk forages. 3. **Liquid formulation and application (Liquid Formulation & Application):** - Biomin's BIO-SIL ships as a freeze-dried 100 g sachet treating 100 t of forage, reconstituted with water and applied via a liquid applicator. - Volac's Ecosyl supports liquid application from 1.28 oz/ton upward with a 48-hour tank-mix life and 36-month shelf life, fitting any forage harvester. --- ## Value chains and production pipelines ### Industrial pipeline of a liquid silage inoculant (EU Feed Additives Reg. 1831/2013 / FDA-CVM / MARA) ``` ┌───────────────────────────┐ ┌───────────────────────────┐ │ 1. Strain isolation │ ───> │ 2. Biomass fermentation │ └───────────────────────────┘ └───────────────────────────┘ │ ▼ ┌───────────────────────────┐ ┌───────────────────────────┐ │ 4. Ensiling application │ <─── │ 3. Formulation │ └───────────────────────────┘ └───────────────────────────┘ │ ▼ ┌───────────────────────────┐ ┌───────────────────────────┐ │ 5. Fermentation monitoring│ ───> │ 6. Feed-out delivery │ └───────────────────────────┘ └───────────────────────────┘ ``` #### Stage 1: Strain isolation Lactic-acid bacteria (Lactobacillus, Pediococcus, Enterococcus) are isolated from forage and ensiled material and screened for fast acidification, aerobic-stability and strain compatibility; the output is a panel of candidate LAB strains. #### Stage 2: Biomass fermentation The selected strain is grown to high cell counts in a controlled fermenter on a growth medium; the output is a concentrated cell broth ready for stabilization. #### Stage 3: Formulation The broth is stabilized as a freeze-dried powder with carriers and protectants (e.g. maltodextrin) — Biomin's BIO-SIL packs 100 g to treat 100 t of fresh forage — reconstituted with water at the farm; the output is a water-soluble liquid product. #### Stage 4: Ensiling application The liquid inoculant is sprayed onto forage at chopping via a liquid applicator as the silo is filled (Volac Ecosyl, 1.28 oz/ton upward, 48-hour tank-mix life); the output is uniformly inoculated forage. #### Stage 5: Fermentation monitoring pH, lactic and acetic acid and the microbial profile are tracked through ensiling — a rapid drop to about pH 3.7–4.0 with L. plantarum confirms good fermentation; the output is a fermentation-quality record. #### Stage 6: Feed-out delivery At feed-out, heterofermentative L. buchneri (PJB/1) keeps the open silo face stable by suppressing yeasts and molds, reducing heating and mycotoxin risk; the output is a stable, high-value ration delivered under EU Reg. 1831/2013, FDA-CVM or MARA frameworks.