3When sprayed on freshhayor othersilage, it arrests certain decay processes and causes the feed to retain its nutritive value longer, and so it is widely used to preserve winter feed forcattle.

4In thepoultryindustry, it is sometimes added to feed to killsalmonellabacteria. 5Formic acid (also called methanoic acid) is the simplest carboxylic acid. Its formula is HCOOH or HCO2H. 6It is an important intermediate in chemical synthesis and occurs naturally, most notably in the venom of bee and ant stings.

7In fact, its name comes from the Latin word for ant, formica, referring to its early isolation by the distillation of ant bodies. Esters, salts, and the anion derived from formic acid are referred to as formate(s).