Formic acid
Formic acid – effective acid control for modern agriculture
Formic acid – effective acid control for modern agriculture
Formic acid is a central part of the group of organic acids, which are widely used in agriculture today as an effective tool to ensure animal health and feed quality. Organic acids play an important role in protection against viruses, harmful microorganisms and fungi, including bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli, which can have a major negative impact on both production and animal welfare.
One of the significant advantages of organic acids is their ability to significantly lower the pH of the feed. This pH reduction creates an environment where unwanted microorganisms have difficulty surviving and multiplying. At the same time, acids possess strong antimicrobial properties that actively inhibit the growth of pests.
In addition, a stable and lower pH contributes to improved absorption of essential vitamins and minerals, which supports the animals' overall health, growth and feed conversion. Organic acids are therefore not only a protective solution, but also an important tool for optimising production results.
Formic acid and acid solutions are naturally included in several parts of daily operations and can be used flexibly depending on needs.
In wet feed, acid is used to prevent unwanted fermentation, which can otherwise lead to sitophobia and reduced feed intake. By stabilising the feed, uniform quality and better utilisation of nutrients are ensured.
In drinking water, acid can be added directly to keep the water system clean and limit bacterial growth. At the same time, it helps to lower the pH in the animals' stomach, which supports stable digestion.
For crimping and in grain storage, organic acids are used to preserve crops and prevent mildew and heat generation. This is essential to maintain the quality of the feed and minimise waste in the production.
Today, modern feed acids are available that combine high efficiency with improved user-friendliness. So-called soft products have been developed to be less corrosive, making them gentler on stable equipment, machinery and technical equipment. One example is Dancid® Soft, which has been developed with a focus on both effective acid control and gentle handling in practice. This type of product makes it possible to achieve the desired results without unnecessary wear on equipment.
At the same time, products are available that do not require HACCP approval, making them easier to implement and handle in a busy working day.
Acids are also supplied in different packaging sizes to suit both small and large requirements. From practical 30 kg cans to larger IBC tanks of more than 1,000 kg for professional use. This provides flexibility and supports efficient logistics in daily operations.
Although formic acid is effective on its own, even better results are often achieved by combining it with other organic acids. Acid solutions are a type of feed acid that has been developed to exploit the strengths of the individual acids and create more complete protection.
Propionic acid is particularly effective against yeast and mildew and is therefore ideal for feed storage and raw materials.
Lactic acid helps to improve the taste of the feed, which increases appetite and supports better growth.
Benzoic acid and sodium benzoate are used, among other things, to reduce feed consumption and counteract nutrient loss.
When these acids are combined with formic acid, a synergistic effect occurs, where they complement each other and cover a wider spectrum of challenges. This approach is used, among other things, in the Dancid® series, where the combination of organic acids provides more effective and broad-spectrum protection than pure formic acid alone.