Influência do ponto de colheita do milho sobre a qualidade da silagem

Abstract

The objective was to evaluate the influence of the silage point on the quality of corn silage and its impact on milk production. The present work was carried out in the state of Paraná, based on the analysis of 167 samples of corn silage from different rural properties that practice beef and dairy cattle farming. The experimental design used was completely randomized, with three treatments. The treatments were composed of three dry matter ranges of the silage samples: <30, 30-38 and >38% dry matter. Samples were taken from the face of the silo, and a composite sample from each silo was vacuum packed and sent to the Esalq-Pirassununga Animal Nutrition Laboratory for analysis. The crude protein content decreased (P<0.05) with the increase in the dry matter content of the silages. The content and digestibility of neutral detergent fiber was higher in silages with <30% dry matter compared to the other treatments. The starch content increased with the increase in the dry matter content of the silage. Starch digestibility was lower (P<0.05) for silages with >40% dry matter in relation to other dry matter classes. The content of total digestible nutrients, silage quality index and the milk production/ton of dry matter of silage were higher (P<0.05) for silages with a dry matter content between 30 and 38%. Harvesting corn for silage at an appropriate point has the potential to improve milk production and generate revenue equivalent to the cost of producing one ha of corn for silage.