The effect of varying the constituents in the additive kofasalt on silage fermentation, intake and animal performance
1991
Kennedy, S.J. (Greenmount College of Agriculture, Antrim (Ireland)) | Stewart, T.A.
On the basis of the various chemical parameters examined the results from this experiment suggest that neither Kofasalt product markedly improved silage fermentation when compared with the untreated silage. These results are most probably a reflection of the more difficult-to-ensile primary regrowth grass used in the current study. The use of formic acid in the present study significantly reduced both silage pH (when compared with Kofasalt treated and untreated silages) and ammonia nitrogen content (when compared with all other silages). The most striking features of the present experiment were the improved silage DM intakes and daily liveweight gains recorded when both Kofasalt products were used. Even though silage fermentation was not as strongly influenced by the Kofasalt products as with formic acid, the silage DM intakes and animal performances were still equivalent to that of formic acid and in the case of the modified Kofasalt product there was a suggestion of further improvement over that obtained by formic acid. Such responses involving primary regrowth grass are similar to those obtained when primary harvest grass was ensiled. It is clear that the chemical parameters measured, whilst comprehensive, do not provide an adequate basis by which to explain the positive silage DM intake and animal performance benefits obtained from the use of the Kofasalt products.
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