Abstract
We evaluated effects of silage pH on corn silage intake. Sixteen Holstein heifers (292kg) were fed control corn silage during a 2-wk preliminary period. This was followed by an 8-wk experimental period in which animals were fed silage neutralized with 0, 2, 4, or 6% sodium bicarbonate (dry matter) added prior to feeding with corresponding pH's 3.72, 4.46, 5.62, and 8.05. Organic matter intake was increased 1.0 and 1.2 kg/day by addition of 2 and 4% sodium bicarbonate versus controls whereas 6% sodium bicarbonate reduced intake .7 kg/day. An equation developed to predict organic matter intake from silage pH was: Y = −3.20 + 3.92 (pH) −.35 (pH)2 with coefficient of determination .66. This equation predicted maximum organic matter intake at pH 5.6. It appears that silage pH is a factor that affects voluntary consumption of corn silage and that pH 5 to 6 is optimum, whereas silage pH above and below may reduce intake.
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