Fermentation Quality of Grass Silage Treated with Enzymes or Formic Acid and Nutritive Value in Growing Cattle Fed with or without Fish Meal

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Abstract
A second cut of timothy-meadow fescue-red clover sward was ensiled in a farm scale bunker silo to compare enzyme solution (cellulase-glucose oxidase) and formic acid (FA) as silage additive. In a feeding trial (2×2 factorial design) with 24 male cattle the diets consisted of FA or enzyme treated silage offered ad libitum and supplemented either with barley or barley-fish meal (FM) mixture. Both silages were well preserved with restricted fermentation in FA and stimulated fermentation in enzyme silage. Ammonia N, lactic acid and acetic acid concentrations were higher in enzyme treated than in FA treated silage. Silage or total dry matter (DM) intakes were not affected (p>0.05) by additive treatment or FM supplementation. The digestibility of crude fibre of enzyme silage diet was lower (p≤0.001) than that of FA silage. The interaction of the main factors was significant (p≤0.05) in the digestibility of DM, organic matter, crude protein and nitrogen free extract showing a more positive effect of FM with enzyme silage. The additive treatment did not affect (p>0.05) live weight gain (LWG). FM increased LWG (p≤0.05), the response being smaller with FA silage. The effects of silage additive and FM on the animal performance are discussed.