Some effects of formaldehyde treatment of hay on the production of Corriedale weaners fed in pens

Abstract

A high protein hay (16 per cent crude protein) was treated with formalin, either during baling or before feeding. During one three-week feeding study, the acceptability and voluntary intake of both treated and untreated hay by Corriedale weaner sheep were similar. In another 12-week feeding study where the formalin treated and untreated hay were fed at 1 kg dry matter per day there were no differences between sheep in wool growth, liveweight gain, nitrogen retention, and the apparent digestibility of dry matter. In vitro fermentation tests showed that treatment with formaldehyde reduced the solubility of the crude protein from 50 to 35 per cent. High losses of formaldehyde occurred when formalin was applied to hay during baling. Methods of reducing these losses have not been defined.