TMR stability improved with additives : effect of additives on aerobic stability and dairy cow intake

In order to increase feed quality, additive has been used to increase silage storage stability. During feeding time, the silage is exposed to oxygen and a degrading process starts decreasing dry matter and increasing temperature. This rise in temperature makes the silage less appetising to cows, few additives have been used to increase aerobic stability aimed to increase feed intake. An additive containing potassium sorbet, sodium sorbate and propionic acid was tested at the SLU in Uppsala (Sweden). This additive has been added to a grass based total mix ration (TMR) in a first treatment and a control treatment without the additive has been distributed to 20 cows in a changeover design with 3 periods and 2 treatments. The TMR’s have also been stored in a stability chamber and temperature was recorded to estimate the time it took the silage to rise 3 degrees above ambient temperature.