Switching from conventional polyethylene (PE) plastic to a high-performance oxygen barrier silage film is one of the most effective changes a dairy operation can make to protect forage value and herd performance.
Standard black-and-white PE plastics are inherently permeable to oxygen, allowing air to continuously penetrate the outer layers of bunker silos and drive aerobic spoilage. To eliminate this, producers trust Silostop Oxygen Barrier Films multi-layer barrier sheets that deliver over 100 times the oxygen protection of conventional plastic. The result is a strictly anaerobic environment that locks in nutrients from the moment the clamp is sealed.
Protecting Fermentable Energy: The Foundation of Rumen Performance
The first line of defence is preserving the non-structural carbohydrates, starches and sugars, that drive rumen function. When oxygen infiltrates a silo, resident yeasts, moulds, and aerobic bacteria begin consuming these fermentable carbohydrates rapidly. Sealing immediately with Silostop Orange, a lightweight and highly puncture-resistant barrier film, effectively starves these spoilage organisms before they can establish.
Keeping these carbohydrates intact until the forage reaches the feed bunk matters enormously: they are the primary fuel for rumen microbial activity and the engine behind efficient protein synthesis.
How High-Quality Silage Directly Boosts Milk Protein
Dairy cows rely heavily on rumen microbes for protein supply, and microbial protein synthesis can account for up to 80% of a cow's total digestible amino acids. This process depends on a synchronised supply of both energy and nitrogen. When cows are fed high-energy corn silage protected by Silostop, microbial populations thrive and reproduce rapidly. The resulting surge in microbial protein flow to the small intestine delivers precisely the amino acid profile the mammary gland needs to synthesise higher volumes of milk protein.
Beyond supporting microbial growth, maintaining an anaerobic fermentation environment also protects the silage's existing crude protein. In poorly sealed bunkers, prolonged oxygen exposure triggers secondary fermentations that degrade plant proteins into volatile fatty acids and ammonia-nitrogen, reducing feed value, lowering palatability, and introducing the off-putting odours that suppress intake. Silostop barrier films maintain a lower, more stable pH and a superior fermentation profile, keeping corn silage fresh, sweet-smelling, and nutritionally dense.
Higher Dry Matter Intake, Lower Feed Costs
Improved silage quality translates directly into increased dry matter intake (DMI). Because silage sealed with Silostop remains free of mould and surface crusting, cows consume more feed volume each day, willingly. Higher daily DMI, combined with elevated microbial protein output, allows cows to peak in milk protein production without additional supplementation.
The knock-on benefit is significant: operations can safely reduce their reliance on expensive external protein concentrates such as soybean meal or distillers' grains, driving meaningful reductions in overall ration costs.
A Clear, Measurable Return on Investment
The financial case for oxygen barrier silage film is well-established. University and field trials consistently show that covering bunker silos with Silostop cuts dry matter losses in the top three feet of feed by up to 50% compared with conventional plastics, allowing producers to feed out approximately 17% more of their harvested crop.
For a modern dairy operation, the upfront investment in a dedicated oxygen barrier film delivers an average 8:1 return on investment, making it one of the most cost-effective tools available for maximising herd performance and farm profitability.