Publication Date
1985
Location
Kyoto Japan
Description
Expansion in the use of silage additives in the more difficult silage-making areas of Europe has created the need for a simple laboratory method to assess the relative values of the wide range of products now offered. A technique is described which can be used to study potential new additives and to monitor existing products. Using direct-cut lucerne(Medicago sativa) ensiled quickly it is possible to produce a high pH, poorly fermented, untreated silage and against this the relative effects of different additive treatments can be assessed. In an example discussed, lucerne of 14% dry matter (DM) and buffering capacity 44m-equiv KOH/lOOg DM produced moderately poor silage of pH 4.8, lactic acid 28.2% of total fermentation acids and protein breakdown 15.9% NH3-N/N. Corresponding values for Add-F (85% formic acid); a mixture of 45% formic acid/45% acetic acid; and 45% sulphuric acid, all applied at 3 kg/1000 kg were: pH 4.1, 4.4, 4.7; lactic acid as % total acids 63.0, 40.8, 28.4%; protein breakdown 10.1, 11.2, 14.2%. At 5 kg/1000 kg the respective values were 3.7, 3.9, 4.7; 73.0, 71.0, 23.4; 6.0, 8.6, 14.2. This assessment applied to over 50 silage additives available in the British Isles indicated that many of them were ineffective and did not correct the difficult fermentation found in this wetter silage area.
Citation
Drysdale, A D. and Parker, D A., "A Technique to Study the Relative Merits of Different Silage Additves" (1985). IGC Proceedings (1985-2023). 22.
(URL: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1985/ses9/22)
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
A Technique to Study the Relative Merits of Different Silage Additves
Kyoto Japan
Expansion in the use of silage additives in the more difficult silage-making areas of Europe has created the need for a simple laboratory method to assess the relative values of the wide range of products now offered. A technique is described which can be used to study potential new additives and to monitor existing products. Using direct-cut lucerne(Medicago sativa) ensiled quickly it is possible to produce a high pH, poorly fermented, untreated silage and against this the relative effects of different additive treatments can be assessed. In an example discussed, lucerne of 14% dry matter (DM) and buffering capacity 44m-equiv KOH/lOOg DM produced moderately poor silage of pH 4.8, lactic acid 28.2% of total fermentation acids and protein breakdown 15.9% NH3-N/N. Corresponding values for Add-F (85% formic acid); a mixture of 45% formic acid/45% acetic acid; and 45% sulphuric acid, all applied at 3 kg/1000 kg were: pH 4.1, 4.4, 4.7; lactic acid as % total acids 63.0, 40.8, 28.4%; protein breakdown 10.1, 11.2, 14.2%. At 5 kg/1000 kg the respective values were 3.7, 3.9, 4.7; 73.0, 71.0, 23.4; 6.0, 8.6, 14.2. This assessment applied to over 50 silage additives available in the British Isles indicated that many of them were ineffective and did not correct the difficult fermentation found in this wetter silage area.
