Abstract
Our objective was to determine the effects of maturity and storage length on the fermentation pattern, ruminal disappearance of nutrients, and recovery of digestible nutrients in flint corn (Zea mays L.) silage harvested with a pull-type machine without a kernel processor. Corn plants were harvested at 300 g kg−1 DM (low dry matter, LDM) or 400 g kg−1 DM (high dry matter, HDM) and stored for 0, 7, 14, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 180 d in laboratory silos. [...]
Highlights
In Brazil, pull-type forage harvesters without a kernel processor are still widely used by farmers (Bernardes and Do Rêgo, 2014; Daniel et al, 2019)
Our objective was to determine the effects of maturity and storage length on the fermentation pattern, ruminal disappearance of nutrients, and recovery of digestible nutrients in flint corn (Zea mays L.) silage harvested with a pull-type machine without a kernel processor
The main objective of our study was to determine the effects of maturity and storage length on the fermentation pattern, ruminal disappearance of nutrients, and recovery of digestible DM in flint corn silage harvested with a pull-type machine without a kernel processor
Summary
In Brazil, pull-type forage harvesters without a kernel processor are still widely used by farmers (Bernardes and Do Rêgo, 2014; Daniel et al, 2019). Pull-type forage harvesters typically result in poor kernel processing and, in turn, lower starch digestibility (Salvati et al, 2017; Ferraretto et al, 2018). Corn hybrids grown in tropical areas predominantly have a greater proportion of vitreous endosperm, which is associated with lower starch digestibility (Correa et al, 2002). Many Brazilian farmers are harvesting corn crop earlier than desirable (< 300 g kg−1 of DM), which result in lower DM yield and silages with lower starch content (Daniel et al, 2019). Ensiling wetter crops are associated with higher fermentative losses (McDonald et al, 1991) and greater formation of volatile organic compounds (e.g. volatile fatty acids, alcohols, esters, aldehydes, ketones), which has been claimed to have negative impacts on animal performance (Weiss, 2017) and the environment (Howard et al, 2010; Hafner et al, 2013).
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