THE EFFECT OF A FORMIC ACID-BASED
PRESERVATIVE ON STRUCTURAL CARBOHYDRATES AND NUTRITIVE VALUE OF LOW DRY
MATTER SWEET SORGHUM SILAGES
Ekin Sucu1,
Ismail Filya1, Ilhan Turgut2
1Department of Animal Science, Faculty of
Agriculture, Uludag University, 16059 Gorukle, Bursa, Turkey
2Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, Uludag
University, 16059 Gorukle, Bursa, Turkey
ekins@uludag.edu.tr
This study was conducted to
evaluate the effects of a formic acid-based preservative (FAP) on the
structural carbohydrates and nutritive value of low dry matter sweet
sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench)
silages. Sorghum was harvested at the flowering stage of maturity
(23.0±0.69% dry matter). The FAP (KemiSile® 2000, Kemira Oyj-Industrial
Chemicals, Finland) was applied to approximately 2 cm chopped fresh
material at 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0 ml/kg levels,
respectively and ensiled in 1.5 liter anaerobic jars (Le Parfait, France) equipped with
a lid that enabled gas release only. The jars were stored at 24±2 ºC
under laboratory conditions. All jars were opened at the end of the
ensiling period (90 days) and sampled for analysis. As a result, the FAP
treatment reduced structural carbohydrates such as neutral detergent
fiber, acid detergent fiber and lignin, hemicellulose and cellulose
contents; however, they increased residual water soluble carbohydrates of
silages (P < 0.05). Due to
the reduction in structural carbohydrates, the application of FAP
increased in situ dry and
organic matter degradability of silages (P < 0.05). Most effective level of FAP on sorghum silage
was found as 4.0 ml/kg.
Key words: sweet sorghum; silage;
chemical preservative;
structural carbohydrates; in situ
rumen degradability;
nutritive value
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