21602

The effects of a microbial inoculant and formic acid as silage additives on chemical composition, ruminal degradability and nutrient digestibility of corn silage in sheep

Rowghani E. نويسنده , ZAMIRI M.J. نويسنده

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The effects of a microbial inoculant (containing propionic and lactic acid bacteria) and formic acid on chemical co rnposition, ruminal degradability of dry matter (OM) and nutrient digestibility of corn silage were examined. Whole-plant corn was ensiled for 60 days in plastic polyethylene bags, and three treatments were compared, 1: control (no additive), 2: Propionibacterium acidipropionici plus Lactobacillus plan/arum at 3 x 1010 cfu/g (If fresh forage, and 3: formic acid (98%) at 2.41/t fresh forage. The silages were subjected to chemical analysis, OM degradability and nutrients digestibility in sheep. At the end of ensiling period, treatment 3 had significantly higher (P<0.05) content of crude protein (CP), lactic acid, total acids, DM recovery and pH values than other treatments. Treatment 2 had the lowest pH value, the highest level of propionic acid, and the lowest level of butyric and total acids (P