POTENTIAL OF COMMERCIAL HYBRIDS OF CORN FOR SILAGE UTILIZATION IN SOUTHEASTERN BRAZIL

Abstract

During the dry season, the quantity and quality of pastures decrease causing low milk production. Corn silage is a good alternative to feed the herd during this time due to its high energy content and fiber quality. Also, besides the high productivity of corn, it goes easily through fermentation, is well appreciated by animals and has high digestibility. Although nutritive value is an important aspect of corn silage, few information is available regarding the effect of cultivars on it. The aim of this paper was to study the potential of production of corn hybrids in Southeastern Brazil for silage utilization. Twenty-two hybrids were tested in six locations (Alfenas, Bom Despacho, Caldas, São Sebastião do Paraíso and Três Pontas, in Minas Gerais, and Sertãozinho, in São Paulo state). Experimental randomized block designs with 3 replications were used and each plot was formed by 4 rows of 8 m spaced 0,8 m. Rows were overseeded and after germination the plant population was corrected in order to achieve 54,000 plants per hectare. Agronomic features were noted down and bromatological analysis were done in order to estimate the dry mater (t ha-1) and milk potential productivity (kg ha-1) of the hybrids in each local. It was observed a large variability among hybrids regarding the potential for silage utilization. Genotype by environment interaction is high for dry matter productivity as well as for milk production potential of hybrids. Heritabilities in a wide sense for dry matter productivity and milk production potential were 0.34 and 0.60, respectively.

Keywords

• Zea mays
• animal feeding
• dry matter: milk: heritability