Technical Overview
(More energy conserved in the bale for more milk & meat production)

HY-SI’s preserving technology was discovered at the University of Minnesota more than thirty years ago.  HY-SI is one of the oldest and still the most unique hay & silage additives available on the market.  It was one of the very first preservatives sold to the Midwest (United States) cattle feeders and dairyman.  As the feeders and dairymen used HY-SI, they reported many benefits that showed the silage quality was improved over untreated silage.  A major advantage of HY-SI technology is that it works just as well on hay.  Baling hay sooner with more colour and leaf retained, reducing weather risk are just some of the benefits, not to mention cattle love HY-SI treated hay and straw.

Most silage preservatives work either by adding live bacteria (inoculating) or by trying to control the composting bacteria.  HY-SI is different because it works with the existing bacteria present in the forage, complementing and accelerating the natural ensiling process.  HY-SI works by feeding and energizing the naturally existing vitamin B12 synthesizing bacteria that is present on all forage material, causing them to reproduce rapidly and generate significantly more available vitamin B12.  The extra B12 is a key fuel which is utilized by the organic acid producing bacteria to accelerate production of acid, namely “Lactic Acid”, the pickling agent for conserving more energy in forage.

HY-SI is a silage and hay preservative created via a truly unique bio-fermentation processing of cobalt.  A series of proprietary manufacturing processes are used to separate the cobalt from the carbonate molecule and link it to a polysaccharide molecule creating a nutrient product linked to a mild carbohydrate base.   The term Dextro-Lac® is used to convey the process and resulting product.  HY-SI contains no living bacteria, but does contain nutrient rich fermentation by-products, enzymes and a completely non-toxic form of cobalt resulting from the Dextro-Lac process.

By targeting the B12 synthesizing bacteria HY-SI works at the root issue.  Trying to encourage ensiling by inoculating with Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) may not be successful if the supporting bacteria that the LAB need to survive do not have sufficient resources to do their job.  Spraying proprionic acid or other products to control Actinomyces and other composting bacteria also negatively affects the good bacteria as well as the bad and thus may not obtain the desired result.  Other preservative products based in molasses or sugars supply food to a wide range of bacteria – some good for ensiling and some bad.  But HY-SI specifically targets the “base level” bacteria, the B12 synthesizers, that the LAB require to nourish them and maximize lactic acid production.  This is why HY-SI performs so well even in wet conditions.

(More energy digested from roughage for more milk & meat production)

The HY-SI ingredient Cobalt Dextro-Lac (CDL) is proven to enhance ruminant digestion in terms of helping the cow or sheep digest more energy from roughage. This is why HY-SI is applied to roughage such as baled straw.
CDL’s unique formulation of cobalt helps rumen micro-organisms synthesize vitamin B12. Extensive university research has demonstrated the following results:

Blood plasma glucose is the animal’s energy source. Increases in blood glucose indicate improved digestion and better absorption of vitamins, minerals, proteins and nutrients from the roughage and grain. The result is improved herd health and performance. Controlled feeding studies with CDL have repeatedly demonstrated cost effective returns in lactating and non-lactating dairy cows and in replacement dairy heifers as well as in beef feed lots, cow-calf herds and cattle back-grounding operations.

Hy-Si stimulates the fiber digesting bacteria in the rumen to breakdown the cellulose into glucose more efficiently.  This process amongst other things involves enzymes.  By making more glucose available to bacteria, fermentation is enhanced, more microbial protein is manufactured.  In ruminant nutrition, energy is the number one limiting factor.  Protein is secondary. 

To summarise all roughages contain energy for the cow to maintain itself.  The more undigestible the feed the more tightly bound the glucose, which means the rumen bacteria have to work harder to release this energy from the cellulose fraction.  Hy-Si is a unique proven product that enhances the bacteria to release energy from the cellulose.

You know Hy-Si is working because ruminants will increase their intakes of roughage.  There will be a manure change where there will be less fibre and the fibre that is in the manure will be more finely processed.  These visual signs indicate that the rumen efficiency is enhanced by adding Hy-Si to the ration and that more roughage is being fermented for improved weight gain and production.