AIV

AIV cattle feed is a variety of silage . The method of obtaining this feed was developed by the Finnish chemist and agronomist Arturi Ilmari Virtanen , and got its name from its initials. The liquid component that Virtanen invented was added to standard food so that it was better stored, which was of great importance during long winters. Virtanen invented to add dilute hydrochloric or sulfuric acid to freshly prepared silage. Thanks to this, it was possible to prevent the onset of the fermentation process without any side effects that would impair the nutritional properties of the silo and not harm the health of livestock ^[1] .

AIV feed entered the market in 1929, and the Virtanen method itself was patented in 1932. In 1945, Virtanen was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry "for research and achievements in the field of agrochemistry and for the invention of the method of preserving feed" ^[2] .

The modern version of the liquid component of AIV contains 76% formic acid , 5.5% ammonium formate and water . This composition has a high acidity and therefore requires compliance with certain safety standards when handling it.

When using earlier versions of the fluid, the technique was as follows: a hole was pulled out in the ground, a silo was folded into it, after which an AIV solution was poured on top of it. Currently, this solution is automatically created in cleaning machines and immediately added to the feed. Three tons of silo requires approximately 5 liters of AIV solution. The solution can be irritating to the skin , but it is harmless to the health of livestock and people.