• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.129-137
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• 2023

Corn silage is extensively utilized in ruminant feeding on a global scale, with substantial research efforts directed towards enhancing its nutritional worth and managing moisture content. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of normal cutting height and elevated cutting height on whole-crop corn silage. Corn was harvested at heights of 15 cm and 45 cm above the ground, respectively, 45 days after heading. The harvested corn was cut into 2-3 cm lengths and packed into 20-liter plastic silos in triplicate. The results showed that dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), water soluble carbohydrates (WSC), and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of C45 were significantly higher than those of the control, while the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) was significantly lower in C45 (p<0.05). The C15 had higher yields than C45 (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in the total digestible nutrients (TDN) yield of whole-crop corn silage. The increase in cutting height resulted in a larger change in moisture content and NDF per centimeter. After 60 days-ensiling, C45 showed significantly lower NH₃-N concentrations. Moreover, C45 had significantly higher lactic acid concentration, lactic acid/acetic acid ratio, and lactic acid bacteria count compared to the control. Mold was not detected and the yeast count was less than 2 log10 cfu/g fresh matter in both control and C45. In summary, C45 improved the feeding value and fermentation quality of whole-crop corn silage at the expense of forage productivity.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.528-533
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• 2009

The fermentative quality and quantitative change in anthocyanin of anthocyanin-rich corn (Zea mays L.) during storage and in vitro ruminal fermentation were studied. The anthocyanin-rich corn silages in bag silo, drum silo and round bale had good fermentative qualities, such as low pH (5% DM) and butyric acid-free, and its quality was maintained for more than 370 d. The amount of anthocyanin in the anthocyanin-rich corn decreased after ensiling by about 45% (from 3.34 to 1.88 mg/g DM), but stayed constant after day 60. The in vitro incubation of the anthocyanin-rich corn with ruminal fluid revealed little degradation of anthocyanin. These results indicate that the anthocyanin had no negative effect on silage fermentation, and the anthocyanin-rich corn silage is utilizable for practical use as a feedstuff. Our results also demonstrate alteration of the anthocyanin content during storage, and show that anthocyanin-rich corn is a suitable antioxidant source for ruminants because of the high stability of the anthocyanin in ruminal fluid.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.224-232
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• 2019

Objective: Apart from various climatic differences, corn harvest stage and varieties are two major factors that can influence the yield and quality of corn silage in the tropics. A study was conducted to determine the optimum harvest stage of four corn varieties for silage production in Malaysia. Methods: Corn was harvested at four growth stages; silking, milk, dough, and dent stages from four varieties; Sweet Corn hybrid 926, Suwan, breeding test line (BTL) 1 and BTL 2. Using a split plot design, the treatments were then analysed based on the plant growth performance, yield, nutritive and feeding values followed by a financial feasibility study for potential commercialization. Results: Significant differences and interactions were detected across the parameters suggesting varying responses among the varieties towards the harvest stages. Sweet Corn was best harvested early in the dough stage due to high dry matter (DM) yield, digestible nutrient, and energy content with low fibre portion. Suwan was recommended to be harvested at the dent stage when it gave the highest DM yield with optimum digestible nutrient and energy content with low acid detergent fibre. BTL 1 and BTL 2 varieties can either be harvested at dough or dent stages as the crude protein, crude fibre, DM yield, DM content, digestible nutrient and energy were not significantly different at either stage. Further financial analysis showed that only Sweet Corn production was not financially feasible while Suwan had the best financial appraisal values among the grain varieties. Conclusion: In conclusion, only the grain varieties tested had the potential for silage making according to their optimum harvest stage but Suwan is highly recommended for commercialization as it was the most profitable.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 2022

This study was conducted to investigate effects of corn silage on final fattening performance, carcass characteristics, and gene expression of Hanwoo Longissimus dorsi muscle biopsy. Twenty one steers with initial body weight of control 291.5±6.5kg, corn silage 291.7.0±17.3kg were used for 18 months of fattening period. Average daily gain of corn silage tended to increase compared to control in early fattening period(p=0.092). Feed conversion ratio of corn silage was higher than control in early fattening(p=0.005). The animals in corn silage increased A grade 23% in meat quantity than the control. Myogenic gene expression on the Longissimus dorsi biopsy were compared between corn silage and control. The level of myosin heavy chain(MHC) I, IIX mRNA were greater than the control in the whole period(p<0.05). The level of Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR γ) mRNA was greater than the corn silage(p<0.05). Inconclusion, corn silage will be possible to use as an alternative concentrate feeding system.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.61-72
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• 2022

The present study was conducted to examine the effect of soybean silage as a crude protein supplement for corn silage in the diet of Hanwoo steers. The first experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of replacing corn silage with soybean silage at different levels on rumen fermentation characteristics in vitro. Commercially-purchased corn silage was replaced with 0, 4, 8, or 12% of soybean silage. Half gram of the substrate was added to 50 mL of buffer and rumen fluid from Hanwoo cows, and then incubated at 39℃ for 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h. At 24 h, the pH of the control (corn silage only) was lower (p<0.05) than that of soybean-supplemented silages, and the pH numerically increased along with increasing proportions of soybean silage. Other rumen parameters, including gas production, ammonia nitrogen, and total volatile fatty acids, were variable. However, they tended to increase with increasing proportions of soybean silage. In the second experiment, 60 Hanwoo steers were allocated to one of three dietary treatments, namely, CON (concentrate with Italian ryegrass), CS (concentrate with corn silage), CS4% (concentrate with corn silage and 4% of soybean silage). Animals were offered experimental diets for 110 days during the growing period and then finished with typified beef diets that were commercially available to evaluate the effect of soybean silage on animal performance and meat quality. With the soybean silage, the weight gain and feed efficiency of the animal were more significant than those of the other treatments during the growing period (p<0.05). However, the dietary treatments had little effect on meat quality except for meat color. In conclusion, corn silage mixed with soybean silage even at a lower level provided a greater ruminal environment and animal performances, particularly with increased carcass weight and feed efficiency during growing period.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.169-176
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• 2018

This study evaluated the effects of Glycine soja (GS) and hairy vetch supplementation on the quality of corn silage. The feeding regimen consisted of a corn silage (Control) and a control supplemented either with 20% GS or 20% hairy vetch with four replicates. All experimental diets were stored for 40 days at room temperature ($20-25^{\circ}C$). The control had a higher (p < 0.05) dry matter level but had a lower level (p < 0.05) of crude protein, crude fat, acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber than any other treatments. Hairy vetch had a higher level (p < 0.05) of acetic acid and butyric acid than any other groups but had a lower level (p < 0.05) of lactic acid than that of the control. A lower silage pH was observed (p < 0.05) in the control compared to the other treatments. The control had lower (p < 0.05) sucrose and fructose concentrations compared to the other treatments. Corn silage supplemented with hairy vetch showed a higher level (p < 0.05) of crude protein and buffer solution protein and a higher ratio of soluble protein to insoluble protein than any of the other groups. Thus, the results of the present study suggest that GS and hairy vetch supplementation of corn silage would be beneficial for maintaining quality and elevating protein levels when compared to the control.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.216-222
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• 2017

This study was conducted to examine the effect of corn (Zea mays L.) - soybean (Glycine max L.) silage prepared by intercropping method on the nutritive value of the silage, in vitro rumen fermentation characteristics, dry matter degradability, as well as milk yield and milk composition of dairy cows. In a couple of experiments intercropped corn-soybean silage (CSBS) was compared with corn silage (CS) and/or Italian ryegrass hay (IRG). Numerically, CSBS had higher crude protein, ether extract, and lactic acid contents compared to CS. In vitro rumen fermentation analysis demonstrated that up to a 24-h incubation period, both CS and CSBS showed higher total gas production, ammonia N concentration, and dry matter degradability compared to IRG (p<0.05). The investigation on animals was conducted in a commercial dairy farm located in Gyeongju, South Korea, employing 42 Holstein cows that were divided into 2 group treatments: CS and CSBS in a completely randomized design. Although no significant difference was observed in milk yield, animals fed on CSBS showed significantly higher milk protein (p<0.05) and milk fat content (p<0.01), compared to animals fed on CS. Taken together, our findings indicate that corn-soybean silage that is cultivated, harvested, and prepared through intercropping can improve the protein content of the silage, and can also enhance in vitro rumen fermentation, dry matter degradability, and performance of dairy cattle.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.187-192
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• 2013

This study was carried out to investigate the incorporation effect of green manure crops (GMC) such as the hairy vetch on improvement of soil environment in reclaimed land during silage corn cultivation over the past two years. Plots consisted of conventional fertilization (CF) and incorporation of GMC were divided by addition rate of nitrogen fertilizer (100 kg $ha^{-1}$) with 30 - 100% of non nitrogen fertilization (NNF). Soil physico-chemical properties and growth and yield potential of silage corn were examined. The tested soils showed strong alkali and saline properties with low contents of organic matter and available phosphate while contents of exchangeable sodium and magnesium were high. Soil salinity increased during cultivation of summer crop. However, corn was not affected by salt content. The fresh weight of GMC at incorporation time was 18,345 kg $ha^{-1}$. Content of total nitrogen was 3.09% and the C/N ratio was 12.8 at incorporation time. Fresh and dry matter yield of silage corn were higher in the order of N30% reduction, CF, N50% reduction, N70% reduction, N100% reduction and NNF. Fresh and dry matter yield potential of silage corn for N30% reduction were comparable to those of CF. Bulk density of the soil decreased with incorporation of GMC, while porosity was increased. The soil pH decreased while content of exchangeable calcium, available phosphate, and organic matter increased. Also contents of exchangeable sodium and potassium decreased with incorporation of GMC. The data indicate that incorporation of hairy vetch can improve soil physical and chemical properties and reduce nitrogen fertilizer application especially for alkali saline reclaimed soil such as Saemangeum reclaimed land.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.1548-1553
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• 2000

An experiment was conducted to study the nutritional quality of whole crop corn silage ensiled with cage layer manure in sheep. Treatments were designed as a $3{\times}3$ Latin square with 16-day periods. Sheep were allotted in one of three diet-treatments, which were whole crop corn silage (CS), whole crop corn+30% cage layer manure (CLM) silage (based on DM; MS) and rice straw+concentrate (SC) mixed at 8:2 ratio (on DM basis). Silage ensiled with CLM significantly increased (p<0.05) digestibilities of crude protein, NDF and ADF, TDN over the other treatments. Ruminal pH in sheep fed SC was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of the other diets at 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 8 h after feeding. Ruminal ammonia nitrogen concentration of the MS treatment was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of the other treatments at 0, 1, 2 h after feeding. The MS treatment highly increased (p<0.05) feed intake, digestibility of organic matter and crude protein, nitrogen intake and retained nitrogen. The MS treatment highly increased (p<0.05) purine derivative (PD) excretion leading to higher microbial protein synthesis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.382-389
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• 2002

The aims of this study is to evaluate the effect of Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Extract (AFE) on the performance of lactating cows in summer (May to July) and winter (December to February). The experiment was a completely randomized design (CRD) and dietary treatments were 1) basal diet without AFE, 2) basal plus 3 g/d AFE into the basal total mixed ration (TMR), 3) basal plus 45.4 mg AFE/kg the ensiling corn silage and 4) AFE inclusion in silage and TMR. Twenty-eight cows from each trial were selected and randomly allocated into the four treatment groups, confined in individual pens, and fed ad libitum for 8 weeks in both seasons of feeding trials. Results showed that AFE inclusion in corn silage significantly improved DM intake by 4.4% and milk yield by 3.1% (p<0.05) during summer. In the winter season, AFE inclusion in the diet significantly improved milk yield by 10%. Direct addition of AFE to the TMR even further significantly improved milk yield over the addition through corn silage by 7.4% in winter (p<0.05). An additive effect of AFE inclusion into TMR and through corn silage was also demonstrated in the winter-feeding. AFE inclusion however, did not improve DM intake during the winter trial. In the summer trial, inclusion of AFE showed an adverse effect on the percentage of milk fat, but did not impact on the milk fat yield. Adding AFE through corn silage showed a trend towards alleviating the negative effects of milk fat from direct AFE inclusion in TMR. The similar trend occurred in the winter trial. The inclusion of AFE through corn silage significantly lowered the milk protein content over direct AFE addition, but did not significantly impacted the milk protein yield in summer. AFE supplementation during the winter season significantly increased milk protein content. Adding AFE to the corn silage significantly increased milk protein content over direct AFE addition in winter although inclusion of AFE significantly decreased total milk solid content in the summer (p<0.005). During the winter season, inclusion of AFE required less DM to produce a unit of milk. Inclusion of AFE into corn silage required less DM, energy and protein to produce a unit of milk. But inclusion of AFE did not alleviate heat stress on the lactating cows.