The chemical composition and luminal degradability of maize silages depending on the cultivar and mowing height at harvest

Abstract

The experiment was designed in a bifactor model with five maize hybrids (Rasant, Dragon, LG 2252, San and Magister), mowed at two heights, i.e., 10-12 cm (A) and 50 cm (B). The average yield of dry matter of plants cut at a height of 50 cm (B) was 130.5 dt/ha and was significantly lower than the yield obtained from maize mowed at a height of 10-12 cm (A), where it amounted to 148.1 dt/ha. The percentage of ears showed the opposite trend, with 55.3 and 49.2%, respectively. Dry matter in all silages ranged from 35.9 to 42.1%. B silages contained more dry matter and starch, but less structural carbohydrate. Dry matter degradation in the rumen of these silages was increased (65.5-70.0%). Effective ruminal degradability of crude protein of all of the investigated silages (80.0-86.5%) was in the same range as that of starch (79.2-87.3%). A tendency towards reduced protein and starch degradabilities was observed in B silages. The average NDF loss after 24 h of ruminal incubation of silage samples produced from plants mowed at the traditional height (A) was 65.3-66.7%.

Effects of Cutting Height and Maturity on the Nutritive Value of Corn Silage for Lactating Cows,

“…In our lactation trial, DM yield was decreased by about 10% when height of cutting was increased. Pitzen (2000) and Kruczynska et al (2001) each compared DM yields at cut heights that were similar to those used by us and reported similar decreases in DM yield. Curran and Posch (2000) reported about a 12% decline in DM yield between cut heights that left 10.2 vs. 50 cm but only a 7% decline comparing cut heights of 20.4 vs. 50 cm.…”

“…Increasing the cutting height of whole-plant corn at harvest also improved its nutritive value for dairy cattle by reducing the concentrations of NDF, ADF, and ADL but increasing the concentrations of starch and in vitro NDF-D. Kruczynska et al (2001) also observed a reduction in crude fiber and ADF, and greater effective degradability of silage that was cut at 50 vs. 10 cm. Dominguez at al.…”

Nutritional characteristics and in vitro digestibility of silages from different corn cultivars harvested at two cutting heights

“…Neylon & Kung (2003) and Bernard et al (2004) evaluated the effect of corn plants cutting height in diets for dairy cows and observed that the increase in cutting height enhanced the nutritive value, reducing NDF and ADF, and increasing starch concentrations. Kruczynska et al (2001) also reported reduction of the fibrous fraction and increase of effective degradability of silages produced from plants cut at 50 cm, compared to the ones cut at 10 cm above ground.…”

Utjecaj zrelosti i visine košnje usjeva kukuruza za siliranje na proizvodne karakteristike mliječnih krava i junadi u tovu

“…The intake of MS increases with advanced maize crop maturity at harvest up to about 350 g DM kg -1 fresh sample, after which it decreases due to declining digestibility of starch and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) (Kruczyńska et Besides maturity, the cutting height also increases DM in MS due to a higher proportion of stover and grain in the forage (Kowalik and Michalski, 2006;Caetano et al, 2011), whereas the cutting height does not affect the DM content of the matured maize crop (< 400 g ST kg -1 fresh crops) (Neylon and Kung, 2003). With an increase in the cutting height of maize crop, there is a decrease in the content of NDF in MS and greater digestibility of fiber and DM in the digestive tract of ruminants (Curran i Posch 2000; Kruczyńska et al, 2001;Neylon and Kung, 2003;Kruczyńska et al 2011). Most changes in MS reported due to increased cutting height have been related to the fact that more fibrous and highly lignified stems are left in the field (Tolera and Sundstøl, 1999).…”