The utilization of whole grain in maize silage by cattle

A.M. Bryant

Ruakura Agricultural Research Centre, Hamilton

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Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1976, 36: 76-80

Maize is commonly harvested for silage when the grain is fully dented. Grain then constitutes about 50% of the total crop dry matter (DM) and is largely responsible for the high metabolizable energy (ME) content of the resultant silage.

Although pamphlets advertising maize harvesters may assert that breakage of virtually all grain is achieved, the amount of grain voided in the faeces of cattle fed maize silage is of concern to many farmers. This paper reports observations on the proportion of grain escaping damage during harvesting and the results of some experiments which permit evaluation of the effect of whole grain in maize silage on its nutritive value.

Keywords: NZSAPAB;

Last Updated 24-08-2000