Effects of harvesting corn varieties at varying maturities on silage quality and digestible dry matter yield of corn silages

Abstract

The objective ol this study was to evaluate the effects of harvesting corn varieties (Hx-947, 33-94. Frassino and Arifiye) at varying maturities on chemical composition, silage quality and digestible dry matter (DM) yields ol corn silages. Corn varieties were harvested at early-milk, milk, and dough stages and were ensiled in mini-silos (1L in volume) in triplicate tor each variety and maturity. Packing was accomplished by hand-power. After 60 d of incubation, silages were opened and analyzed for DM. organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF). acid detergent liber (ADF), pH, lactic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid concentrations, and in vitro DM digestibility (IVDMD). In general, the concentrations of DM and OM increased, but NDF, ADF concentration decreased with increasing maturity in silages (P0.05). 33-94 variely had the highest digestible DM yields ai early milk and milk stages (1142.4 and 1363,7 kg/da, respectively), but Arifiye variety had the highest digestible DM yield (1232.9 kg/da) at dough stage. In conclusion, while milk stage seemed to be the best harvesting stage for Rx-947, 33-94 and Frassino varieties, dough stage seemed to be the best harvesting stage for Arifiye variety based on digestible DM yields.

Keywords

• com silage
• maturity
• silage quality
• in vitro digestibility
• digestible dry matter yield