The Effects of Formic Acid or Formic Acid Plus Molasses Additives on the Fermentation Quality and DM and ADF Degradabilities of Grass Silage

Erol BAYTOK

Article Details

The Effects of Formic Acid or Formic Acid Plus Molasses Additives on the Fermentation Quality and DM and ADF Degradabilities of Grass Silage

Authors:

Erol BAYTOK

Publisher:

TUBITAK

Journal:

Turkish Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences 2003 Vol.27 Issue 2, pp.425-431

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

1/2003

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2000770220

Frequency:

Bimonthly

eISSN:

1303-6181

pISSN:

1300-0128

Keywords:

Abstract:

 

This experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of formic acid and formic acid plus molasses additives on the grass silage fermentation characteristics and degradability of dry matter (DM) and acid-detergent fibre (ADF). Grasses were cut in early (experiment I), middle (experiment II) and late maturity (experiment III). The additive treatments in experiments I, II and III were: 1) Untreated; 2) 0.5% Formic acid (FA); 3) FA+2% molasses; 4) FA+4% molasses; and 5) FA+6% molasses. The silages were ensiled in jar silos (1 L) and DM and ADF degradability were determined by using the nylon bag technique in the rumens of four fistulated sheep. Increasing formic acid plus molasses decreased the ADF and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) content of silages as compared with FA and untreated silages in experiments I, II and III (p < 0.001). Formic acid plus molasses silages were well preserved with low pH (4.62, 4.51, 4.54), high lactic (30.62, 32.20, 28.54 g kg-1 DM) and acetic acid (19.21, 21.46, 20.65 g kg-1 DM ) and low butyric acid (3.81, 2.19, 1.43 g kg-1 DM ) as compared with untreated silages (pH: 5.12, 5.35, 5.36; lactic acid: 20.70, 21.47, 15.21g kg-1 DM; acetic acid: 14.32, 15.88, 11.28 g kg-1 DM; butyric acid: 4.50, 3.47, 6.68 g kg-1 DM in experiments I, II and III, respectively).   However, silage fermentation quality was not at the optimal level. The FA silages were moderately preserved with more restricted fermentation than the formic acid plus molasses and untreated groups. In experiments I, II and III, significant differences were noticed between untreated and other silages in respect of DM degradability. ADF degradability was not affected by the silage treatments at 4, 16 and 24 h, but was significantly (p < 0.01 or p < 0.001) affected at other times.

 

This experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of formic acid and formic acid plus molasses additives on the grass silage fermentation characteristics and degradability of dry matter (DM) and acid-detergent fibre (ADF). Grasses were cut in early (experiment I), middle (experiment II) and late maturity (experiment III). The additive treatments in experiments I, II and III were: 1) Untreated; 2) 0.5% Formic acid (FA); 3) FA+2% molasses; 4) FA+4% molasses; and 5) FA+6% molasses. The silages were ensiled in jar silos (1 L) and DM and ADF degradability were determined by using the nylon bag technique in the rumens of four fistulated sheep. Increasing formic acid plus molasses decreased the ADF and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) content of silages as compared with FA and untreated silages in experiments I, II and III (p < 0.001). Formic acid plus molasses silages were well preserved with low pH (4.62, 4.51, 4.54), high lactic (30.62, 32.20, 28.54 g kg-1 DM) and acetic acid (19.21, 21.46, 20.65 g kg-1 DM ) and low butyric acid (3.81, 2.19, 1.43 g kg-1 DM ) as compared with untreated silages (pH: 5.12, 5.35, 5.36; lactic acid: 20.70, 21.47, 15.21g kg-1 DM; acetic acid: 14.32, 15.88, 11.28 g kg-1 DM; butyric acid: 4.50, 3.47, 6.68 g kg-1 DM in experiments I, II and III, respectively).   However, silage fermentation quality was not at the optimal level. The FA silages were moderately preserved with more restricted fermentation than the formic acid plus molasses and untreated groups. In experiments I, II and III, significant differences were noticed between untreated and other silages in respect of DM degradability. ADF degradability was not affected by the silage treatments at 4, 16 and 24 h, but was significantly (p < 0.01 or p < 0.001) affected at other times.

Article Details

The Effects of Formic Acid or Formic Acid Plus Molasses Additives on the Fermentation Quality and DM and ADF Degradabilities of Grass Silage

Authors:

Erol BAYTOK

Publisher:

TUBITAK

Journal:

Turkish Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences 2003 Vol.27 Issue 2, pp.425-431

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

1/2003

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2000770220

Frequency:

Bimonthly

eISSN:

1303-6181

pISSN:

1300-0128

Grass silage

formic acid

molasses

silage fermentation

degradability

Issues

Article Details

The Effects of Formic Acid or Formic Acid Plus Molasses Additives on the Fermentation Quality and DM and ADF Degradabilities of Grass Silage

Authors: Erol BAYTOK

Publisher: TUBITAK

Journal: Turkish Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences 2003 Vol.27 Issue 2, pp.425-431

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 1/2003

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2000770220

Frequency: Bimonthly

eISSN: 1303-6181

pISSN: 1300-0128

Grass silage

formic acid

molasses

silage fermentation

degradability

Issues

Authors:

Erol BAYTOK

Publisher:

TUBITAK

Journal:

Turkish Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences 2003 Vol.27 Issue 2, pp.425-431

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

1/2003

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2000770220

Frequency:

Bimonthly

eISSN:

1303-6181

pISSN:

1300-0128