BEFORE                                                                                                        AFTER

Crimping is the ensiling of early combined moist cereals to produce a highly digestible moist feed that has benefits for both the farmer and their stock. All combinable crops can be crimped Barley, Wheat, Oats, Beans, Peas, Lupins and Soya.

Combining should be carried out when the grain is approx 35-40% moisture. This is about 3 weeks earlier  than conventional harvest. 

Crimped grain should be stored in a pit made from non-movable sides and a concrete floor. The walls should be lined with plastic sheet (1000 gauge). On completion the top sheet should be evenly weighted with tires, sandbags, bales etc. A layer of Brewers grains placed on the crimped grain below the top sheet helps consolidation and seals the top preventing air entering it also has the benefit of deterring vermin.

Some of the many advantages to crimping include;

	Increased DM and Energy.
	Improves digestion and utilization of starch and protein when treated with Grain-sil.
	Early harvest allows more time to establish next crop.
	Not so weather dependant allowing a wider window of harvesting dates.
	No dust while processing better for operators and stock.
	Grain is processed in one session reducing hours of work during winter

Crimping is carried out at or close to the pit. The moist grain is loaded into a crimping machine which rolls the grain breaking the seed coat. Grain-Sil or Crimp-Sile chemical is added at this stage and mixed with the grain as it leaves the machine. The Grain is discharged into the pit and moved to form a wedge. The now treated grain must be consolidated, this is best carried out using a tractor ensuring that the total area of the pit is covered. The grain should be rolled in shallow layers to exclude any remaining air.

 

Grain-Sil

Grain-Sil is a blend of proven ingredients to ensure an efficient preservation with enhanced stability at feed out. The ingredients Protect the protein making it less degradable in the rumen this increases the utilization of the protein leading to better performance of dairy and beef cattle. Starch digestion is also slowed in the rumen this gives improved utilization and improved rumen function with reduced risk of acidosis often associated with rapid starch digestion.

 

Crimp-Sile

When it is proposed to use the grain slowly of feed lower quantities then Crimp-Sile is the idea product. The special blend of ingredients are very efficient at maintaining  stability  in the pit.

The choice between using Crimp-Sile or Grain-Sil is dependent on the intended use and rate of use. Were high volumes are to be fed then Grain-Sil should be used. Below approx 4.5 kgs when a pit is used slowly then Crimp-Sile should be used.

 

Cool-Store XL

A unique combination of Chemical and biological ingredients which produce a multi action crimping additive.

Chemical

Cool-Store XL contains a unique blend of non corrosive preservative salts used widely in the food industry. These salts are proven to reduce the growth of yeasts and moulds which can cause loss of nutrients and produce mycotoxins which are detrimental to intake and performance Once the clamp is opened yeasts and moulds produce heat indicating further breakdown of nutrients leading to further loss in performance. Cool-Store XL can reduce these nutrient losses and extend the non-heating life of the opened clamp.

Biological

Cool-Store XL contains Multiple strains of Bacteria including Lactococcus Faecium, Pediococcus spp, Lactobacillus Plantarum, Streptococcus Lactis and Bacillus spp. These bacteria are multi action; rapidly dropping the pH restricting growth of detrimental bacteria. Some produce bacteriocins which are capable of killing many of the undesirable organisms that can cause spoilage. The Bacillus spp. also produce digestive enzymes in the rumen once the crimped grains are eaten increasing the potential performance from the grain.