Effect of Hybrid Type on Fermentation and Nutritional Parameters of Whole Plant Corn Silage

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Two corn hybrid types, dual-purpose and silage-specific, were harvested at the one half to three fourths milk line and ensiled in fermentation bags for 60 days. Parameters such as fermentation quality, chemical composition, yield prediction and energy value, carbohydrate profile, and in situ digestibility were evaluated for the comparison of two corn types. Our analysis for the above parameters showed that under favourable production conditions, for whole-plant corn silage, the nutritive value per unit was higher for dual-purpose corn, but biomass yield and nutritive value per ha were higher in silage-specific corn. Our current study provides data for whole-plant corn silage research and reference data for ruminant nutrition in selecting corn silage. ABSTRACT: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of hybrid type on the fermentation and nutritional parameters of whole-plant corn silage (dual-purpose and silage-specific corn). For this purpose, the two corn hybrid types were harvested at the one-half to three-fourths milk line and ensiled in fermentation bags (50 × 80 cm) for 60 day. Our results demonstrated that the ratio of lactic acid to acetic acid (p = 0.004), propionic acid (p < 0.001), Flieg point (p < 0.001), ether extract (p = 0.039), starch (p < 0.001), milk-per-ton index (p < 0.005), net energy for lactation (p = 0.003), total digestible nutrients (p < 0.001), neutral detergent soluble fiber (p =0.04), and in situ dry matter digestibility (TDMD(is)) (p < 0.001) were higher in dual-purpose corn silage, while the pH (p = 0.014), acetic acid (p = 0.007), the ratio of ammonia nitrogen to total nitrogen (p = 0.045), neutral detergent fiber (p < 0.001), acid detergent fiber (p < 0.001), acid detergent lignin (p < 0.001), dry matter yield per ha (p < 0.001), milk-per-acre index (p = 0.003), available neutral detergent fiber (p < 0.001), and unavailable neutral detergent fiber (p < 0.001) were higher in silage-specific corn silage. Based on our analysis, we concluded that under favourable production conditions for whole-plant corn silage, the nutritive value per unit was higher in dual-purpose corn while biomass yield and nutrient value per ha were higher in silage-specific corn.