Winter performance of beef weaners fed untreated and formaldehyde-treated wilted lucerne silages and hay

G.H. Scales and T.N. Barry

Tara Hills High Country Research Station, Omarama

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Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1975, 35: 160-166

Formaldehyde plus formic acid-treated silages were made from wilted lucerne and fed to weaner cattle. Concentrated applications (0.10% HCHO and 0.13% HCOOH of fresh lucerne) were compared with dilute applications containing the same quantities of HCHO and HCOOH but diluted by adding water. Lucerne hay was also made from the same area as the silages.

Formaldehyde plus formic acid treatment decreased protein degradation and organic acid fermentation, there being small differences between the concentrated and dilute applications.

Cattle fed treated silages consumed slightly more dry matter than those fed untreated silage but liveweight gains did not differ significantly from animals fed either untreated silage or lucerne hay.

There was a significant linear relationship between silage DM consumption and DM content (r = 0.73), with increases in consumption of 1.45 kg/head/day for each 10% increase in DM % within the range of 26 to 54% DM.

It was concluded that there was little advantage in treating wilted lucerne silages with formaldehyde plus formic acid additives at the rates described.

Keywords: NZSAPAB;

Last Updated 24-08-2000