Effect of kernel breakage on the fermentation profile, nitrogen fractions, and in vitro starch digestibility of whole-plant corn silage and ensiled corn grain

Authors:
Open Access
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Summary: In this experiment, whole corn plants were harvested, and ears were separated from the forage portion and shelled. Corn kernels were either left intact or broken manually using a hammer. The remaining forage portion of the corn plants was chopped. Samples of the intact and broken kernels were stored for 0 or 30 d in quadruplicate vacuum pouches. Remaining intact and broken kernels were each reconstituted with the chopped forage portion of the corn plant to simulate whole-plant corn forage and were also stored for 0 or 30 d. Kernels separated from reconstituted whole-plant corn silage were analyzed for 7-h ruminal in vitro starch digestibility. It was observed that 7-h ruminal in vitro starch digestibility increased with ensiling only in kernels that were broken.

This publication has 17 references indexed in Scilit: