The Effect of Sodium Formatted Addition on the Quality of No-Cob Sweet Corn Silage

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the effects of different levels of organic acid-based sodium formate (SF) addition on nutrient contents, fermentation quality, dry matter intake, digestible dry matter, and relative feed value of no-cob sweet corn silages. In the experiment, groups were formed by adding 0 % SF (control group), 1 % SF and 2 % SF to no-cob corn, and the fermentation period continued for 60 days. At the end of the study, it was determined that SF supplement decreased the dry matter, crude protein, crude oil, ADF, NDF, starch, ME, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, and ethanol contents of corn silages, whereas it increased lactic acid, crude ash, and starch levels. In addition, it was found that the pH values of the experiment silages were statistically decreased with the addition of 1 % SF; dry matter intake, digestible dry matter, and relative feed values were found to increase. At the end of the study, it was concluded that 1 % SF addition could be used because of its positive effect on the fermentation properties and dry matter intake, digestible dry matter, and relative feed values as well as pH lowering and lactic acid-increasing effect of no-cob corn silages.