Volatile fatty acid proportions and microbial protein synthesis in the rumen of cattle receiving grass silage ensiled with different rates of formic acid

Timothy–meadow fescue herbage was ensiled with formic acid (FA) (expressed as 100% solution) at the rates of 0, 2, 4 or 6 L t −1 . The silages were fed along with concentrates to bulls fitted with cannulae in the rumen and duodenum. The ration comprised grass silage (700 g kg −1 ), barley (240 g kg −1 ) and rapeseed meal (60 g kg −1 ). The application rate of FA had no effect on the site or extent of the digestion of dietary organic matter (OM) and neutral‐detergent fibre. The flow of total N at the duodenum increased linearly ( P < 0·05) with application rate of FA, reflecting mainly an increased ( P < 0·01) flow of microbial N. The apparent efficiency of net microbial protein synthesis in the rumen increased ( P < 0·05), the proportion of propionate in the volatile fatty acids (VFA) in the rumen was not affected ( P > 0·05) but that of butyrate increased (linear and quadratic effects, P < 0·01) with increasing rate of FA. It is concluded that an increase in the rate of FA at ensiling leads to a higher utilization of energy and/or protein‐yielding substrates for rumen microbes and to a modified rumen VFA pattern with an increased proportion of butyrate.