TY  - SER
AU  - Gaafar,H.M.A.
TI  - Effect of grain content in corn hybrids on nutritive value of whole plant corn silage
KW  - Corn
KW  -  Nutrition
KW  - Silage
KW  - Hybrid corn
N1  - Includes references
N2  - Three commercial corn hybrids were used to study the effect of their grain content on the nutritive value of whole plant com silage. Hybrids were harvested at dough stage of maturity, chopped and ensiled in plastic bags for eight weeks. Nutrients digestibility coefficients and nutritive values of com silages were determined using barki rams. The yield of whole plant corn forage, silage, ear, grain and leave with husk crops per feddan increased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing grain content. The yield of stover and stalks were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by grain content in the hybrid. The relative contents of ear and grain increased. stover and stalks decreased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing grain content. The relative content of leaves was not significantly (P>0.05) affected by grain content The percentage of ensiling weight losses decreased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing grain content. The contents of DM, OM and NFE of whole plant com forage and silage crops increased, but the contents of CP, CF, EE and ash decreased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing grain content. However, ensiling decreased the contents of DM, OM and NFE and increased the contents of CP, EE. CF and ash. In respect of silage quality, the concentrations of lactic, propionic and valerie acids increased. but the concentrations of TVFN s, acetic. isobutyric, butyric acids and ammonia-N decreased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing grain content of com silage. The pH value and the Concentrations of total organic and isovaleric acids were not significantly affected by grain content (P>0.05). Whole plant com silage OM intake by rams and the digestibility of DM, OM and NFE and subsequently TDN and DE values increased, but the digestibility of CP and CF and subsequently DCP value decreased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing grain content of com silage. The digestibility of EE was not significantly affected by grain content (P>0.05). The production of TDN, DE and DCP per feddan along with the output of silage yield and economic efficiency increased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing grain content of corn silage. Also. the output per feddan was doubled by 1.18 to 1.36 when com crop used as .silage compared with grain. In addition. the corn crop can .be harvested early to clear the land for fall plowing or (or second cropping. These results suggest that the optimum level of grain in whole plant corn silage is at least 35% of the DM
UR  - http://nile.enal.sci.eg/EALE/2004/EJNF/704/1/1.pdf
ER  -