Department of Animal Nutrition & Forages, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141 0041, India
Online published on 29 December, 2011.
Kharif fodders viz. Bajra and Bajra + Cowpeji (2:1) and Rabi fodders viz. Oat and Oat+Berseem(2:l) treated with additives formic acid (0.4% v/w), formic acid 0.4%+formalin (@3ml/100 g CP) and common salt (0.5%) were ensiled in polythene bags kept in a large silo pit. Voluntary DMI was predicted using NH3 -N, DM content and its digestion kinetic parameters. Predicted DMI of Oat and Bajra silage was more close to the actual intake when calculated on the basis of digestion kinetic parameters of DM. Additives improved the voluntary DMI over control silages. DMI of conserved forages can be reliably predicted using degradation constants of DM.
