Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-b95js Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-07T11:44:21.306Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Feeding value of wilted silages made using formic acid, formaldehyde and propionic acid

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

Elizabeth Donaldson  and
R. A. Edwards
Elizabeth Donaldson
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture, University of EdinburghWest Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG
R. A. Edwards
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture, University of EdinburghWest Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG
Get access

Summary

The nutritive value of four silages was compared using eight rumenfistulated wethers. Wilted ryegrass was ensiled without additive (A); with formic acid (13·9 kg/t dry matter) (B); with formic acid (10·3 kg/t dry matter) plus formalin (formaldehyde at 4·8 kg/t dry matter) (C); with formic acid (4·9 kg/t dry matter) plus formalin (formaldehyde at 2·3 kg/t dry matter) plus propionic acid (5·6 kg/t dry matter) (D).

Dry-matter intakes were 13·8, 15·1, 14·3 and 14·3 g/kg live weight for A, B, C and D respectively. Digestibilities of organic matter and dry matter were not affected by the additives. Digestibility of nitrogen and peak ruminal ammonia concentration were significantly (P<0·05) reduced by the addition of formaldehyde.

The effect on rumen fermentation characteristics, of chemically restricting in-silo fermentation, is illustrated. Differences in the rumen volatile fatty acids and in the efficiency of utilization of the energy for growth, fattening and lactation are discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 25 , Issue 1 , August 1977 , pp. 71 - 81
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1977

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Barry, T. N. and Fennessy, P. F. 1973. Effect of formaldehyde treatment on the chemical composition and nutritive value of silage. II. Digestibility of the silages and the chemical composition of rumen fluid in sheep supplemented or not supplemented with D-L methionine. N.Z. Jl agric. Res. 16: 59–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barry, T. N., Fennessy, P. F. and Duncan, S. J. 1973. Effect of formaldehyde treatment on the chemical composition and nutritive value of silage. III. Voluntary intake, live-weight gain and wool growth in sheep fed the silages with and without intraperitoneal supplementation with D-L methionine. N.Z. Jl agric. Res. 16: 64–68.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blaxter, K. L. and Clapperton, J. L. 1965. Prediction of the amount of methane pro- duced by ruminants. Br. J. Nutr. 19: 511–522.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Castle, M. E. and Watson, J. N. 1970a. Silage and milk production, a comparison between grass silages made with and without formic acid. J. Br. Grassld Soc. 25: 265–271.Google Scholar
Castle, M. E. and Watson, J. N. 1970b. Silage and milk production, a comparison between wilted and unwilted grass silages made with and without formic acid. J. Br. Grassld Soc. 25: 278–284.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Donaldson, E. and Edwards, R. A. 1976. Feeding value of silage: silages made from freshly cut grass, wilted grass and formic acid treated wilted grass. J. Sci. Fd Agric. 27: 536–544.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Forbes, R. M. 1950. Protein as an indicator of pasture forage digestibility. J. Anim. Sci. 9: 231–237.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Harris, C. E. and Raymond, W. F. 1963. The effect of ensiling on crop digestibility. J. Br. Grassld Soc. 18: 204–212.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hinks, C. E., Edwards, I. E. and Henderson, A. R. 1976. Beef production from formic acid-treated and wilted silages. Anim. Prod. 22: 217–223.Google Scholar
Hinks, C. E. and Henderson, A. R. 1977. Beef production from additive-treated silages. Anim. Prod. 25: 53–60.Google Scholar
Honig, H. and Rohr, K. 1973. [The influence of formalin and of additives containing formalin on the ensiling process and rumen digestion of dairy cows.] Wirtschaftseigene Futter. 19: 21–30.Google Scholar
Jackson, N. and Forbes, T. J. 1970. The voluntary intake by cattle of four silages differing in dry matter content. Anim. Prod. 12: 591–599.Google Scholar
McCuixough, M. E., Sisk, L. R. and Smart, W. W. G. 1970. Influence of fermentation in the silo on rumen fermentation, silage intake, and digestibility. J. Dairy Sci. 53: 1042–1045.Google Scholar
McIlmoyle, W. A. 1976. Effect of silage additives on the intake and performance of male calves and steers. Anim. Prod. 22: 321–328.Google Scholar
Mann, E. 1975. The effect of additives on the microbiology of grass silage. Ph.D. Thesis, Univ. Edinburgh.Google Scholar
Ørskov, E. R. 1975. Manipulation of rumen fermentation for maximum food utilization. WldRev. Nutr. Diet. 22: 152–182.Google ScholarPubMed
Pike, I. H. 1972. A nutritional evaluation of silage made using formic, acetic and hydrochloric, or hydrochloric acid. Proc. Br. Soc. Anim. Prod. (New Series) 1: 130 (Abstr.).Google Scholar
Valentine, S. C. and Radcliffe, J. C. 1975. The nutritive value for dairy cows of silage made from formaldehyde-treated herbage. Aust. J. agric. Res. 26: 769–776.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Waldo, D. R., Keys, J. E. and Gordon, C. H. 1973. Formaldehyde and formic acid as a silage additive. J. Dairy Sci. 56: 229–232.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Waldo, D. R., Keys, J. E., Smith, L. W. and Gordon, C. H. 1971. Effect of formic acid on recovery, intake, digestibility, and growth from unwilted silage. J. Dairy Sci. 54: 77–84.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Waldo, D. R., Smith, L. W. and Gordon, C. H. 1968. Formic acid silage versus un- treated silage for growth. J. Dairy Sci. 51: 982 (Abstr.).Google Scholar
Wilkins, R. J. and Cook, J. E. 1975. Nutritive value of silages. Rep. Grassld Res. Inst. 1974, pp. 57–58.Google Scholar
Wilkins, R. J., Wilson, R. F. and Cook, J. E. 1974. Restriction of fermentation during ensilage: the nutritive value of silage made with the addition of formaldehyde. In Proc. 12th int. Grassld Congr., Moscow, pp. 237–253.Google Scholar
Wilkinson, J. M., Wilson, R. F. and Barry, T. N. 1976. Factors affecting the nutritive value of silage. Outl. Agric. 9: 3–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar