title: Effects of silage pH on voluntary intake of corn silage.
abstract: We evaluated effects of silage pH on corn silage intake. Sixteen Holstein heifers (292 kg) 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.
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001835:Body Weight; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008954:Models, Biological; D012820:Silage; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate; D003313:Zea mays
chemical_list: D001639:Bicarbonates; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate