The Effect of Wilting and Use of Formic and Sulphuric Acid on the Composition, Ruminal Degradability and Aerobic Stability of Alfalfa Silage

Effects of wilting and usage of formic and/or sulphuric acids on alfalfa silage (AS) composition, aerobic stability and ruminal degradability were tested in three trials. Chopped alfalfa hay (AH) were wilted and then ensiled. There were no differences between compositions of wilted and fresh AH. In silage 1 and 2, crude protein and true protein increased while NDF decreased. Compared to control silage, formic acid treated silage had more crude protein and true protein while silage 3 had more crude protein only. Aerobic stability of silages was evaluated using changing values of pH and N-NH3. The pH data illustrated that acid treatment can protect silage from spoilage to a greater degree compared to the control silage until 48 h. In all incubation times, N-NH3 contents of control silage were higher than acid treated silages. Ensiling decreased fraction a and increased fraction b of DM compared to AH. Ensiling decreased fraction a+b of DM compared to AH and this decrease was more pronounced for acid treated silages. For the degradability of CP, fraction a of AH was less than the control silage and formic acid treated silage; however, this fraction was higher in AH compared to silage 3. The reverse order was noted for fraction b.