Nutritional and Economical Evaluation of Watania Corn Hybrids Silages

Abstract

Four corn hybrids included 3 white hybrids, single crosses (SC) Watania 4 (W4) and Watania 6 (W6) and three way cross (TWC) Watania 11 (W11) and 1 yellow hybrid (SC) Watania 97 (W97) were cultivated in the Experimental Farm of National Seed Company, Minya El Qamh, El Sharkeya Governorate, Egypt. Whole corn plants were harvested after 92 days of planting at the dough stage of maturity and chopped to 1-1.5 cm of length. Five hundred kg of each chopped hybrid was ensiled in double plastic bags with 80 kg weight for each, pressed by hand to exclude the air from the bags and ensiled for 35 days. Four digestibility trials were conducted to determine the nutritive values of different corn hybrids silages using Rahmany rams. Results indicated that yield of whole plant, stems and leaves were mostly significant higher with the hybrids W11 and W97 than those of W4 and W6 ones. Watania 6 showed significant higher ear content (36.60%) than that of the other experimental hybrids, while W11 had significant higher leaves content (18.65%) and W97 showed the higher stems content (52.47%) compared with the other hybrids. Watania 97 hybrid recorded significantly (P<0.05) the higher yield of DM, TDN, CP, DCP and DE than those of other hybrids, being W4 had the lowest values. The contents of DM and CF were higher in W97 than others hybrids, whereas, the contents of OM and ash were slightly differed among the different corn hybrids. Watania 11 showed slightly higher CP content and W6 had the higher contents of EE and NFE than those of other hybrids. Moreover, the contents of DM, OM, CP, CF and NFE tended to decrease, whereas, the contents of EE and ash tended to increase after ensiling for the different corn hybrids. The contents of all fiber fractions (NDF, ADF, ADL, hemicellulose and cellulose) were higher in W11 and W97 than those of the other hybrids, being the lowest values of fiber fractions were occurred with W6 hybrid. All tested corn silages were free from mold, characterized with suitable fermentation characteristics, yellowish green color and good smell. The pH values of the different tested silages ranged between 4.05 and 4.40 and lactic acid concentration ranged between 4.48% of DM for W97 silage and 5.49% of DM for W6 silage. Total VFA's concentration ranged between 2.01 and 3.02% of DM with accepted values for NH 3-N concentration were recognized in the different kinds of silage. Watania 6 recorded the highest DM intake (1175 g/day), while W97 had the lowest one (1113 g/day). Watania 6 silage showed significantly (P<0.05) higher digestibility of DM, OM, EE and NFE and also the values of TDN and DE than those of the other corn silages. While, W11 silage recorded significantly (P<0.05) highest CP digestibility and DCP value compared with other tested silages. Whereas, W97 silage revealed significantly (P<0.05) highest digestibility of CF, NDF, ADF, hemicellulose and cellulose than the other ones. Ruminal pH value was significant the highest (P<0.05) in W97 followed by W11, while W4 and W6 had the lowest values. Whereas, W6...

Effect of harvesting time on forage yield and quality of maize

“…In our study, the hybrid had lower ear percentage than 35%. Similar, Gaafar et al (2018) and Saiyad and Kumar (2018) reported that maize fodder yield and quality traits depends on the genetic variability and interaction of genotypes with environment conditions.…”

“…It is recommended that farmers are engage in hybrid maize forage production with high share of grain in whole plant forage yield because of increases the palatability, energy level, and digestibility of fodder maize (Wolf et al, 1993). According to Gaafar et al (2018) hybrids should have ear percentage over 35% in order to farmers produce maize on a profitable basis. In our study, the hybrid had lower ear percentage than 35%.…”

Cardioprotective Activities of Quercetin and Rutin in Sprague Dawley Rats Treated With 5-Fluorouracil

“…Also, the percentage of the ear, crude protein content, ADF and NDF in maize forage did not differ among the years. Percentage of ear in the whole plant of forage was lower than 35% which means that production of maize is not on а profitable basis according to Gaafar et al (2018). Means not followed by the same letter within column are significantly different according to Tukey test (p ≤ 0.05); * , ** -Significant at the 0.05 and 0.01 probability levels, respectively; ns -non-significant.…”

Harvest Time Effect on Quantitativeandqualitative Parameters of Forage Maize

“…Also, the percentage of the ear, crude protein content, ADF and NDF in maize forage did not differ among the years. Percentage of ear in the whole plant of forage was lower than 35% which means that production of maize is not on а profitable basis according to Gaafar et al (2018). Means not followed by the same letter within column are significantly different according to Tukey test (p ≤ 0.05); ** -significant at the 0.01 probability level; ns -non-significant.…”