Effects of flavouring agents on intake of silage by feedlot steers

In a 5 x 5 Latin square with 12-day periods, 35 yearling Hereford steers, 358+or-32 kg, were randomly assigned to one of 5 groups to estimate the effects of adding flavouring agents to grass-legume silage at feeding time. Flavouring agents chosen represented major taste groups: sweet (0.025% aspartame (Asp) as fed), acid (0.625% hydrochloric acid (HCl) as fed), salt (0.6% sodium chloride (NaCl) as fed) and monosodium glutamate (MSG at 1% as fed). Daily intakes were measured. Monosodium glutamate increased silage intake (P<0.05). It is suggested that adding MSG may be of possible practical use as a silage additive to increase silage intake by yearling steers..