Corn silage management: effects of hybrid, maturity, chop length, and mechanical processing on rate and extent of digestion.

Five experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of hybrid, chop length, maturity, and mechanical processing of corn silage on dry matter and nutrient disappearance in the rumen. Corn silage that had not been dried or ground was incubated in macro in situ bags (30 x 35 cm) for 8, 16, 24,48, and 96 h. Experiments la and 2 evaluated the effects of maturity and mechanical processing for two corn silage hybrids harvested at two theoretical lengths-of-cut.

Corn silage management: effects of hybrid, maturity, inoculation, and mechanical processing on fermentation characteristics.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of hybrid, maturity, mechanical processing, and inoculation of corn silage on fermentation characteristics. In experiment 1, Pioneer hybrid 3845 corn silage was harvested at three maturities (hard dough, one-third milkline, two-thirds milkline). In experiment 2, Pioneer hybrids 3845 and Quanta were harvested at three maturities (one-third milkline, two-thirds milkline, and blackline).

Corn silage management: effects of hybrid, chop length, and mechanical processing on digestion and energy content.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of chop length and mechanical processing of two hybrids of whole plant corn on digestion and energy content of the total mixed ration (TMR). The experimental designs in experiments 1 and 2 were 6 x 6 and 4 x 4 Latin squares, respectively. In the first experiment, Pioneer hybrid 3845 was harvested at three theoretical lengths of cut: 11.

Corn silage management III: effects of hybrid, maturity, and processing on nitrogen metabolism and ruminal fermentation.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of maturity and mechanical processing of two hybrids of whole plant corn silage on DM and OM digestibility, nitrogen metabolism, ruminal fermentation, and milk production and composition in lactating Holstein cows. In the first experiment, Pioneer hybrid 3845 whole plant corn was harvested at hard dough, one-third milkline, and two-thirds milkline with a theoretical length-of-cut of 6.4 mm.

Corn silage management II: effects of hybrid, maturity, and mechanical processing on digestion and energy content.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of maturity and mechanical processing of two hybrids of whole plant corn on starch, fiber, and ether extract digestibilities and energy content of the total mixed ration fed to lactating Holstein cows. In the first experiment, Pioneer hybrid 3845 whole plant corn was harvested at hard dough, one-third milkline, and two-thirds milkline with a theoretical length of cut of 6.4 mm.