ARS | Publication request: RELATIVE FEEDING VALUE OF DIVERSE CORN SILAGE HYBRIDS

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: December 14, 2000
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Brown midrid (bm3) corn has a mutation that impairs lignin synthesis in the plant. Consequently, bm3 corn silage has lower lignin content and is usually more digestible than corn silage made from conventional corn hybrids. Cows fed bm3 corn silage in high-forage diets (75 percent forage) produced about 2 kg more milk than cows fed the same diet containing conventional corn silage. In a study comparing corn silage made from high oil, waxy, multileaf, or bm3 hybrids, the bm3 corn silage diets supported higher milk production. Transition cows fed bm3 or a conventional hybrid produced about 2 kg more milk per day when fed the bm3 corn silage. Lastly, in a study to evaluate corn silage quality as a function of cutting height, it was found that cutting at 28 inches rather than at 14 inches increased dry matter content of the silage, reduced the NDF and ADF content, and resulted in about one kg more milk per cow per day.