HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Waldo, D. R. Articles by Gordon, C. H. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Waldo, D. R. Articles by Gordon, C. H.

Formaldehyde and Formic Acid as a Silage Additive

USDA, ARS, Nutrition Institute Ruminant Nutrition Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland 20705

ABSTRACT

First growth direct-cut grass-legume forage from a common source was ensiled without treatment or with .12% formaldehyde plus .14% formic acid. The two silages were fed ad libitum as the sole ration for 74 days to 30 dairy heifers paired by body weight. Digestibilities and nitrogen balance were determined with four other heifers fed in a 4 x 4 Latin square with each silage fed ad libitum and near maintenance. Energy recovery from storage was improved by treatment (90 versus 85%). Treatment improved hot water insoluble nitrogen recovery from storage (94 versus 68%) but allowed nearly as much total acid production (10.1 versus 11.2% dry matter) as control silage. Nitrogen digestibility was slightly depressed (63.1 versus 65.1%) by treating, but daily nitrogen retention was significantly increased (31.3 versus 25.7 grams). Daily digestible energy intakes were improved by treatment (285 versus 256 kilocalories per kilograms) as were daily gains (750 versus 643 grams). Formaldehyde at this concentration almost stopped nitrogen degradation in silage fermentation and aided protein by-pass through the rumen to produce more nitrogen retention. In our first experiment, a treatment costing about $5 per ton of dry matter produced results as good as the average for 10 experiments applying formic acid costing about $10 per ton.