The use of fatty acids as grass silage additives

The effects of a range of fatty acids (C₁‐C₁₈) on silage fermentation in laboratory silos have been examined. When acids were applied to ryegrass in equimolar concentrations (50 mM) in the C₁‐C₆ range, only the C₆ acid (hexanoic) had a marked effect in inhibiting lactate production. When hexanoic acid was examined in a second experiment over the concentration range 9 mM to 50 mM, concentrations below 50 mM did not prevent acid production, and at the lower levels production of lactate was stimulated. When higher fatty acids hexadecanoic (16:0), octadecanoic (18:0) and octadecenoic (18:1) were added at similar concentrations (8 to 9 mM) and octadecadienoic (18:2) added at concentrations ranging from 8 mM to 29 mM to ryegrass samples, lactic acid fermentation was not inhibited.