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Formic Acid Treatment of Wheat and Corn Silages

Dairy Expreriment Station, SEA, USDA and University of Tennessee, Lewisburg 37091

ABSTRACT

Thirty-two lactating cows were in each of two feeding trials to compare: 1) formic acid treated corn silage, 2) untreated corn silage, 3) formic acid treated wheat silage, and 4) untreated wheat silage. Formic acid (82%) was added at the silo at .5% of the green forage weight. In the milk production trials, dry matter intake, actual milk, fat-corrected milk, and body weight gain were higher for corn silage than for wheat silage, but there were no significant responses in milk production to the formic acid treatments. Treatment of corn and wheat silages with formic acid resulted in higher pH and residual sugar content but less production of lactic acid, acetic acid, and ammonia. Digestibility of silages was determined with 48 bred heifers. Dry matter intakes and digestibility coefficients for dry matter, crude protein, and acid detergent fiber were greater for corn silage than for wheat silage and for formic acid treated than for untreated silages.

¹ Dairy Experiment Station.

² University of Tennessee.