DLG Testing Guidelines · DLG e.V. defines the Test Regulations for the Quality Tests by DLG Test...

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DLG Testing Guidelines for the award and use of the DLG Quality Mark for ensiling agents


As at: 01 January 2018 The Quality Tests are conducted by DLG TestService GmbH, Certification Unit, Frankfurt am Main (hereinafter called “DLG” or “Certification Unit”). DLG e.V. defines the Test Regulations for the Quality Tests by DLG Test Service GmbH. The Certification Unit must comply with these and conduct the Quality Tests in accordance with this standard. Citation: DLG TestServicen GmbH., 2018. “DLG Testing Guidelines for the award und use of the DLG Quality Mark for ensiling agents”, prepared under the auspices of the DLG commis-sion for ensiling agents, at http://www.dlg.org/siliermittel.html. Authors (members and guests of the DLG commission for ensiling agents). H. Auerbach, Brachwitz M. Eise, DLG, Groß-Umstadt K. Hünting, LWK NRW, Haus Riswick, Kleve C. Löffler, LAZBW Aulendorf H. Nußbaum, LAZBW Aulendorf J. Ostertag, LFL Bayern, Grub G. Pahlow, JKI Braunschweig T. Pauly, SLU Uppsala (Sweden) S. Rahn, Münster W. Richter, LFL Bayern, Grub G. Rössl, LFL Bayern, Grub U. Rubenschuh, DLG, Groß-Umstadt H. Spiekers, LFL Bayern, Grub W. Staudacher, DLG, Frankfurt K.-H. Südekum, Universität Bonn J. Thaysen. LWK Schleswig-Holstein, Rendsburg A. Töpper, LTZ Augustenberg U. Wyss, Agroscope Posieux (Switzerland) Editing: F.J. Schwarz, TU München und A. Thalmann, Karlsruhe


© DLG TestService GmbH 2018 page 2 of 4


Table of Contents 1 List of abbreviations ................................................................................................ 3

2 Preliminary notes ..................................................................................................... 5

3 General information ................................................................................................. 6

4 Conduct of testing .................................................................................................... 9

5 Silage ...................................................................................................................... 12

6 Sample preparation ................................................................................................ 14 6.1 Silage analyses................................................................................................. 14 6.2 Composition of active substances and conformity with the declared

composition ...................................................................................................... 14 6.3 Ensiling agent dosage ....................................................................................... 15 6.4 Ensiling agent application.................................................................................. 15

6.4.1 General requirements ............................................................................. 15 6.4.2 Notes on test procedures ........................................................................ 15

6.4.2.1 Inoculants and chemical products in liquid form........................... 15 6.4.2.2 Inoculants and chemical products in solid form............................ 16 6.4.2.3 Quality Mark for alternative application methods of biological

ensiling agents............................................................................ 16

7 Laboratory silo tests (for AC 1-3, also AC 5 and AC 6)......................................... 17 7.1 General............................................................................................................. 17 7.2 Laboratory silos ................................................................................................ 17

7.2.1 Filling, compacting and sealing of laboratory silos ................................... 17 7.2.1.1 Filling of laboratory silos ............................................................. 17 7.2.1.2 Fill quantities .............................................................................. 18

7.2.2 Storage temperature and duration ........................................................... 18 7.2.2.1 Storage temperature ................................................................... 18 7.2.2.2 Storage duration by action category ............................................ 18

7.3 Bale silage tests ................................................................................................ 19 7.3.1 General notes ......................................................................................... 19 7.3.2 Test procedure ........................................................................................ 19 7.3.3 Application of ensiling agent .................................................................... 20 7.3.4 Compaction and wrapping ....................................................................... 20 7.3.5 Generation of air stress ........................................................................... 20 7.3.6 Storage duration ..................................................................................... 20 7.3.7 Opening of bales and sampling ............................................................... 20 7.3.8 Tests....................................................................................................... 21



7.4 Tests by action category ................................................................................... 21

7.4.1 Verification of efficacy in relation to action category 1 .............................. 21 7.4.2 Verification of efficacy in relation to action category 2 .............................. 23 7.4.3 Verification of efficacy in relation to action category 3 .............................. 25 7.4.4 Verification of efficacy in relation to action category 5a ............................ 25 7.4.5 Verification of specific actions.................................................................. 26

7.5 Verification of efficacy in relation to action category 6 ........................................ 26 7.5.1 Scope of testing ...................................................................................... 26 7.5.2 Testing scheme....................................................................................... 26 7.5.3 Overview of test parameters in action category 6..................................... 27 7.5.4 Sample preparation ................................................................................. 28 7.5.5 Determination of specific methane yield .................................................. 28 7.5.6 Evaluation ............................................................................................... 29

7.6 Testing of secondary effects (action category 4) ................................................ 29 7.6.1 General ................................................................................................... 29 7.6.2 Additional conditions for action category 4a (ensiling agents also

capable of improving the feed intake value of treated silage) ................... 29 7.6.3 Additional conditions for action category 4b (ensiling agents also

capable of improving the digestibility of treated silage) ............................ 30 7.6.4 Additional conditions for action category 4c Meat (ensiling agents also

capable of improving the meat production value of treated silage) ........... 30 7.6.5 Additional conditions for action category 4c Dairy (ensiling agents also

capable of improving the milk production value of treated silage) ............. 30

8 Dossiers .................................................................................................................. 31

Appendices Appendix 1 - Plant material documentation form........................................................... 32 Appendix 2 - Test documentation form ......................................................................... 33 Appendix 3 - Dosage calculation in litres/minute (l/min) ................................................ 34 Appendix 4 - Recommended fill weights for laboratory silo tests ................................... 35 Appendix 5 - Scoring scheme for the degree of spoilage .............................................. 37 Appendix 6 - Table of test methods .............................................................................. 38 Appendix 7 - Determination of the viable count and osmotolerance of lactic acid bacteria in silage inoculants according to PAHLOW (2007)...................... 40 Appendix 8 - Detection and determination of viable count of lactate-utilising yeasts in silage according to PAHLOW (2008 a)................................................. 43 Appendix 9 - Detection and viable count of Clostridium endospores according to PAHLOW (2008 b) .................................................................................. 46 Appendix 10 - Calculation of methane yield per laboratory silo ....................................... 49 Appendix 11 - Action category 4b ................................................................................... 51 Appendix 12 - Figures .................................................................................................... 55 References .................................................................................................................. 60



Content and purpose – abstract

The DLG Guidelines for the award and use of the DLG Quality Mark for ensiling agents apply to ensiling agents as defined by the “General Quality and Testing Regulations for the DLG Quality Mark for Farm Inputs” (Allgemeine Güte- und Prüfbestimmungen für das DLG-Gütezeichen für Landwirtschaftliche Betriebsmittel/RAL-GZ 161) and the “Special Quality and Testing Regulations for Ensiling Agents” (Besondere Güte- und Prüfbestimmungen für Siliermittel/RAL-GZ 161/5).

Ensiling agents as defined by the Special Quality and Testing Regulations are commer-cially formulated:

§ silage additives as defined by Regulation (EC) No. 1831/2003; § pre-mixtures containing silage additives; § pre-mixtures containing silage additives and preservatives; § preservatives that also promote the ensiling process; § substances added to base substrates in order to improve the ensiling process and/or

aerobic stability and thus to increase methane yield.

The Guidelines apply to and regulate the conduct of tests for the DLG Quality Mark; they extend to initial testing as well as tests conducted as part of ongoing monitoring.

The tests are aimed at providing reliable evidence of product efficacy in the various cate-gories applied for or already awarded for the purposes of the DLG Quality Mark. These reflect the product-specific action categories (AC) and fields of application (FoA).

The Guidelines contain:

§ general information; § requirements for silage in the various fields of application; § recommendations for silage preparation; § information on the scope and methods of testing and analytical methods for the various

action categories; § minimum documentation requirements; § documentation forms.

The DLG Guidelines are binding for ongoing monitoring tests. For initial tests, they provide important recommendations regarding the design, conduct and documentation of tests both for the applicant and the test institute commissioned by the applicant.

The DLG Guidelines thus facilitate:

§ compliance with DLG requirements; § harmonised test procedures; § reproducible test results; § minimum test failures; § improved transparency of testing; § optimum validity of testing; § minimum margins for the interpretation of test results; § objective evaluation by the DLG Commission.

The DLG Guidelines may be amended or supplemented by resolution of the DLG Quality Mark Commission for Ensiling Agents (DLG-Kommission Gütezeichen Siliermittel) in light of practical testing experience or as required by the state of the art. The DLG will notify quality mark users of any amendments and/or supplements to the Guidelines once these have been resolved. Amendments and/or supplements become effective after publication.

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