DIFFERENT COMBINATIONS OF FORMIC, PROPIONIC AND BENZOIC-ACIDS IN SLAUGHTER OFFAL PRESERVATION FOR FEEDING TO FUR ANIMALS

Washed rumens, intestines and lungs of beef cattle, were ground, homog enized and acidified with formic acid, 6 g kg(-1). The acidified offal was divided into 30 plastic buckets, assigned to two storage temperat ures (4 degrees C, 20 degrees C) and 5 treatments with propionic and b enzoic acids, (in g kg(-1)): 0 + 0, 2 + 0, 1 + 1, 0 + 2 and 3 + 1. At 4 degrees C, the organoleptic quality of the silages containing additi ve acids was good for the whole storage time (35 d), while at 20 degre es C all the silages containing 2 g kg(-1) additive acids were spoiled . Yeasts predominated the deterioration process with all treatments. B enzoic acid inhibited yeast growth significantly better than formic ac id alone, or added propionic acid. Biogenic amines increased only as a result of bacterial growth. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.