In two experiments lucerne was ensiled with the addition of 85 formic acid at rates ranging from 0 to 8 l/t. In tests made 8 months later, nitrogen, pH, and butyric acid values were similar in all formic acid-treated silages and lower than those in untreated ones. With increasing amounts of formic acid, ammonia levels decreased but water-soluble carbohydrate and water-insoluble nitrogen increased. In a quadratic relationship between lactic acid content and level of added formic acid the lactic acid maximum corresponded to a formic acid level of 4 l/t. Organic matter digestibility, voluntary intake, and live-weight gain of sheep increased with increasing formic acid. Over the practical range of lamb carcass values and formic acid costs the optimum level of formic acid was shown to be 5#x2013;6 l/t.
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