With growing pressure to make the most of home-grown resources, many farmers are looking for ways to unlock the full nutritional and economic value of their grain for winter feeding. Treating and preserving grain correctly not only improves feed quality and safety but also reduces waste, lowers purchased feed costs, and supports better animal performance. Whether it’s crimped wheat, wholecrop barley, or triticale, treated grain offers a valuable, consistent source of energy to balance winter rations and reduce reliance on bought-in feed.
In this article, we explore the advantages of grain preservation, the benefits of crimping and soft acid treatment, and how treated grain can be used effectively in buffer feeding systems across Irish dairy and beef farms.
What Is Grain Treatment An Why It Matters For Irish Farmers?
Grain treatment is the process of preserving freshly harvested, high-moisture grain using additives to prevent spoilage and retain feed value. It allows farmers to harvest earlier—before the crop fully dries down—reducing weather risk and eliminating drying costs.
The most common methods include:
- Crimping with additive – Rolling moist grain (25–35% moisture) and treating it with a preservative
- Soft acid treatment – Applying buffered acid-based products to whole grain for safe storage
- Urea treatment –Used with wheat, barley, and other grains at higher moisture levels to improve preservation and feed value.
Advantages of Crimped Grain
Crimped grain is highly palatable, ferments well in the clamp, and provides a slow-release energy source that supports rumen health—ideal for both high-yielding cows and finishing cattle.
Key benefits include:
- Harvest early and avoid weather damage
- No drying costs
- High energy, highly digestible feed
- Stabilised rumen function and lower risk of acidosis
- Stored safely in a pit or clamp
- More control over feed quality and consistency
Crimped grain stores well for up to 12 months and fits easily into winter TMRs and buffer feeding plans.
Benefits of Soft Acid Grain Treatment
When grain is slightly drier (18–25% moisture) or when rolling isn’t practical, soft acid grain preservatives provide a flexible, effective preservation option.
These buffered acid products:
- Prevent moulds and spoilage
- Stabilise grain without fermentation
- Allow safe storage of whole grain in sheds or bins
- Retain nutritional value for long-term use
Soft acid treatment works well for both dairy and beef systems, especially where grain is harvested drier or storage space is limited.
Buffer Feeding with Treated Grain
Treated grain is an ideal component in buffer feeding systems—especially during times when grass quality drops or pasture supply can’t meet demand.
For dairy herds, treated grain helps:
- Maintain milk solids during shoulders of the year
- Improve energy intake when grass is lacking
- Reduce reliance on expensive purchased feed
For beef herds, it supports:
- Consistent daily live weight gain
- Effective and economical finishing diets
- Improved feed conversion when paired with moist feeds or silage
Treated grain is highly versatile—perfect as a standalone energy source or combined with high-quality silage and supplements.
Choosing the Right Grain Additive
The ideal additive depends on the grain type, moisture level, and storage method available on your farm.
Crimped grain additives:
- Promote controlled fermentation
- Typically include lactic acid bacteria and preservatives
- Best for grain harvested at 25–35% moisture – For optimal preservation, use a specialist additive such as MAGNIVA PLATINUM CRIMP, which is formulated for crimped wheat, barley, triticale, or oats. It improves aerobic stability, reduces dry matter losses, and minimises heating and mould risk. The combination of homofermentative and heterofermentative bacteria ensures faster preservation in the clamp and protects feed quality when opened.
Soft acid grain preservatives:
- Use buffered propionic/formic acid blends
- Suitable for grain at 18–25% moisture
- Ideal for dry or whole grain storage without rolling
At Specialist Nutrition, we’ll help you choose the right additive to match your grain, storage, and feeding system—maximising quality and return on investment.
Why Treated Grain Makes Sense
Preserving your own grain gives you:
- Feed security for the winter
- Lower costs compared to buying in concentrates
- Higher control over feed quality and ration design
- A reliable source of energy for both dairy cows and beef cattle
It also allows you to integrate home-grown feed into more sustainable, self-sufficient systems—reducing reliance on imported ingredients and external price shocks.
Conclusion
Grain treatment is one of the smartest ways to get more value from your land, especially when paired with effective buffer feeding during autumn and winter. Whether you’re feeding milking cows, dry cows, or finishing cattle, treated grain offers a high-energy, cost-effective solution that fits well into modern farm systems. Talk to the Specialist Nutrition team today for expert advice on grain preservation and buffer feeding strategies tailored to your farm.
