Protein supplementation of formic acid‐ and enzyme‐treated silages. 1. Digestibilities, organic matter and fibre digestion

Abstract

Two silages were made from perennial ryegrass ensiled without wilting in 2‐t capacity silos with the application of either formic acid or an enzyme mixture of cellulases and hemicellulases. Effluent losses were monitored over the ensiling period. Subsequent silage analysis showed that the enzyme‐treated silage had higher concentrations of residual water soluble carbohydrate, lactic acid and acetic acid, and lower concentrations of cellulose, ADF and NDF. Effluent production was higher with the enzyme silage (formic acid, 211 1 t−1; enzyme, 2671 t−1). The silages were either offered as the sole diet or supplemented with rapeseed meal at two levels (60 or 120 g fresh weight kg−1 silage DM offe..