CHEMICAL COMPOSITION, DIGESTIBILITY AND AEROBIC STABILITY OF CORN SILAGES HARVESTED AT DIFFERENT MATURITY STAGES

Authors

  • Carlos Henrique Silveira Rabelo UNESP, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, s/n, Zona Rural, 14884-900, Jaboticabal - SP, Brazil.
  • Adauton Vilela de Rezende UNIFENAS, Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Rodovia MG 179, km 0, 37130-000, Alfenas - MG, Brazil.
  • Flávio Henrique Silveira Rabelo ESALQ/USP, Departamento de Ciência do Solo, Av. Pádua Dias, 11, 13418-900, Piracicaba - SP, Brazil.
  • Fernanda Carvalho Basso UNESP, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, s/n, Zona Rural, 14884-900, Jaboticabal - SP, Brazil.
  • Carla Joice Härter UNESP, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, s/n, Zona Rural, 14884-900, Jaboticabal - SP, Brazil.
  • Ricardo Andrade Reis UNESP, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, s/n, Zona Rural, 14884-900, Jaboticabal - SP, Brazil.

Keywords:

Digestibility. Fermentation. Fiber.Tropical climate.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of corn plant harvested in diferente maturity stages on the chemical composition, digestibility and aerobic stability of silages. The corn used in the study was the hybrid BM3061 harvested after 114, 121, 126, 133 and 140 days of sowing at five maturity stages based on the advancement of the grain milk line (early dent (ED), 1/3 of milk line (ML), 1/2 ML, 2/3 ML and black layer (BL)). A variation from 242.7 to 377.4 g of dry matter (DM) kg-1as fed was observed between the ED and BL stages; however, the measurements performed in this study did not exhibited major changes in the composition of these silages. The silages produced with plants that were harvested at the 1/2 ML, 2/3 ML and BL stages showed lower DM loss during the fermentative process. The silages produced with plants that were harvested at the ED and 1/3 ML stages showed higher in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) (0.584 and 0.631 g g-1 of OM, respectively). The corn silages produced at the maturity stage of 2/3 ML showed a higher aerobic stability (104 hours) during the aerobic exposure. The 1/3 and 2/3 ML maturity stages seem to be the best harvest stages for the production of corn silage in tropical climates.

Published

19-05-2015

Issue

Section

Zootechnics