<b>Chemicals additive used in silages</b>

Abstract

The objective was to describe the characteristics referent to chemical additives with emphasis to the preservatives or inhibiters of microorganism development which act on the ensiled material. Ensilage is a method used in the preservation of forage quality during the storage process, not increasing nutritional values besides those comprehended on forage. Non conventional forage species, which are not maize or sorghum, when ensiled required special precautions, since the possibility of loss during the stages of the ensilage process do not indicate that every productive and qualitative potential of the culture should be maintained in the resulting silage. Due to occurrence of nutritive loss of the ensiled material, it may have necessity of utilization of additives. Various additives have been used with several purposes, as the urea (increase on content of crude protein and neutral detergent fiber), the calcium carbonate (reducer of fermentation process and calcium fountain), sodium benzoate (conservation of carbohydrates, effect reducer on ethanol concentration and leavens inhibition), sodium pyrosulphite (cellular respiration inhibition and bactericide), sodium hydroxide (reduction on the components of the cellular wall and increase on values of “in vitro” digestibility of dry matter) formic acid (dehydrate effects and bactericide) and the formol (bacteriostatic action and protection of protein adversely action of microorganisms). The employment of chemical additives which inhibit the microorganism development is explained in critical cases as material with low content of dry matter and/or low content of soluble carbohydrates, difficulty on compaction of the ensiled mass and when the impediment of garner to present high oxygen percentage in inner silo.