Nutritional and Economical Evaluation of Watania Corn Hybrids Silages

Four corn hybrids included 3 white hybrids, single crosses (SC) Watania 4 (W4) and Watania 6 (W6) and three way cross (TWC) Watania 11 (W11) and 1 yellow hybrid (SC) Watania 97 (W97) were cultivated in the Experimental Farm of National Seed Company, Minya El Qamh, El Sharkeya Governorate, Egypt. Whole corn plants were harvested after 92 days of planting at the dough stage of maturity and chopped to 1-1.5 cm of length. Five hundred kg of each chopped hybrid was ensiled in double plastic bags with 80 kg weight for each, pressed by hand to exclude the air from the bags and ensiled for 35 days. Four digestibility trials were conducted to determine the nutritive values of different corn hybrids silages using Rahmany rams. Results indicated that yield of whole plant, stems and leaves were mostly significant higher with the hybrids W11 and W97 than those of W4 and W6 ones. Watania 6 showed significant higher ear content (36.60%) than that of the other experimental hybrids, while W11 had significant higher leaves content (18.65%) and W97 showed the higher stems content (52.47%) compared with the other hybrids. Watania 97 hybrid recorded significantly (P<0.05) the higher yield of DM, TDN, CP, DCP and DE than those of other hybrids, being W4 had the lowest values. The contents of DM and CF were higher in W97 than others hybrids, whereas, the contents of OM and ash were slightly differed among the different corn hybrids. Watania 11 showed slightly higher CP content and W6 had the higher contents of EE and NFE than those of other hybrids. Moreover, the contents of DM, OM, CP, CF and NFE tended to decrease, whereas, the contents of EE and ash tended to increase after ensiling for the different corn hybrids. The contents of all fiber fractions (NDF, ADF, ADL, hemicellulose and cellulose) were higher in W11 and W97 than those of the other hybrids, being the lowest values of fiber fractions were occurred with W6 hybrid. All tested corn silages were free from mold, characterized with suitable fermentation characteristics, yellowish green color and good smell. The pH values of the different tested silages ranged between 4.05 and 4.40 and lactic acid concentration ranged between 4.48% of DM for W97 silage and 5.49% of DM for W6 silage. Total VFA’s concentration ranged between 2.01 and 3.02% of DM with accepted values for NH3-N concentration were recognized in the different kinds of silage. Watania 6 recorded the highest DM intake (1175 g/day), while W97 had the lowest one (1113 g/day). Watania 6 silage showed significantly (P<0.05) higher digestibility of DM, OM, EE and NFE and also the values of TDN and DE than those of the other corn silages. While, W11 silage recorded significantly (P<0.05) highest CP digestibility and DCP value compared with other tested silages. Whereas, W97 silage revealed significantly (P<0.05) highest digestibility of CF, NDF, ADF, hemicellulose and cellulose than the other ones. Ruminal pH value was significant the highest (P<0.05) in W97 followed by W11, while W4 and W6 had the lowest values. Whereas, W6 recorded significantly (P<0.05) the highest ruminal TVFA’s concentration followed by W4, while W11 and W97 had the lowest concentrations. Moreover, the concentration of NH3-N was significant higher (P<0.05) with W11 than that of the other silages, being the lowest values were occurred with W4 and W6 hybrids. Net revenue and economic efficiency were significantly higher (P<0.05) for W11 and W97 than those of W4 and W6. It could be concluded that white third cross Watania 11 and yellow single cross Watania 97 corn hybrids recorded the best results concerning forage crop yield, nutrients yield and economic efficiency and should have corn breeding programs to increase their ear content of at least 35% in order to maximize the output of TDN and DCP and profitability.