Storage of High Moisture Grain Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] Treated with Propionic Acid1

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Abstract
This study was designed to determine if propionic acid can be used as a preservative for storage of high moisture sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] grain. Sorghum grain at 16, 21, and 26% moisture levels was treated with 0.75% propionic acid by weight, and treated and untreated samples of each moisture level were stored in polyethyline lined garbage cans for 60 days. The untreated 21 and 26 moisture level samples heated while the untreated 16% moisture sample or the 16, 21, 26% moisture samples treated with propionic acid did not heat. After 60 days in storage, untreated grain stored at 21 and 26% moisture had molded and was badly deteriorated. No evidence of molding was observed in any of the propionic acid treated samples and only slight evidence of molding was observed in the untreated 16% moisture sample. Significant differences among samples for in vitro dry matter digestibilities were not observed. Unspoiled grain samples (16% moisture untreated, and 16, 21, and 26% moisture samples treated with propionic acid) were fed to feeder pigs for intake and gain evaluation. The highest feed intake was for the 26% moisture propionic acid treated sample and the rations containing the 21 and 26% moisture grain treated with propionic acid produced the highest average daily gains in weight. It was concluded that high moisture sorghum grain can be stored successfully as a feed grain after treatment with propionic acid.

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