Impact of kernel processing and particle size in whole plant corn silage on the performance of dairy cows

• Grant number: 16/16702-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: November 01, 2016
• End date: February 28, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Nutrition and Feeding
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Gustavo Nussio
• Grantee: Gustavo Gonçalves de Souza Salvati
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The whole plant corn silage is characterized as a ingredient rich in energy, composed of a fibrous vegetative and starch fractions. The physical shape of the fiber has a great impact on the rumen and consequently on animal performance. The fine chopping forage is related to a reduction of salivation, rumen buffering and decrease in milk fat content. The particle size absence of silage also increases the incidence of disturbances such as acidosis, bloat, hoof problems and displaced abomasum. Because of their low physical effectiveness, diets such small particle size require more dietary inclusion of long fiber such as hay and haylage, increasing the cost of the diet. However in the manufacture of the silo, very large particles may decrease the capacity to transport the material to be ensiled and reduce the packing, resulting in loss of quality of forage and silo storage capacity. Furthermore, excessive increase in forage particle size increases diet sorting. Approximately 50% of whole plant corn silage energy value is derived from starch. The proper processing of the kernel fraction of whole plant corn silage positively affects the digestibility of starch and milk yield. Moreover, the digestibility of that starch is influenced by plant maturity at harvest, the type of forage harvester and the theoretical length of cut. In Brazil is often the use of pull type forage harvester without kernel processor. In this type of harvester, grain damage is usually obtained by reducing the length of cut. However, reduction of length of cut reduces the size of the fiber forage. Forage harvesters that damage the kernels without too reduce the size of the fiber, are desirable, especially when the aim is to formulate diets with high inclusion of corn silage without adding another source of long fiber. Based on the effect already described in kernel processing for hybrids with floury endosperm and the benefits of physically effective fiber the proposed project aims to evaluate: 1) the effect of the kernel processor in flint emndosperm corn hybrids in the performance of dairy cows and starch digestibility, 2) the physical effectiveness of fiber and performance of dairy cows on diets with increasing particle size and 3) identify the theoretical length of cut which provides adequate physical effectiveness of the fiber without affecting diet sorting by the animal.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SALVATI, G. G. S.; SANTOS, W. P.; SILVEIRA, J. M.; GRITTI, V. C.; ARTHUR, V, B. A.; SALVO, P. A. R.; FACHIN, L.; RIBEIRO, A. P.; MORAIS JUNIOR, N. N.; FERRARETTO, L. F.; et al. Effect of kernel processing and particle size of whole-plant corn silage with vitreous endosperm on dairy cow performance. JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE, v. 104, n. 2, p. 1794-1810, FEB 2021. (16/16702-2)

SALVATI, GUSTAVO GONCALVES DE SOUZA; DOS SANTOS, WILLIAN PEREIRA; CARVALHO-ESTRADA, PAULA DE ALMEIDA; DE MORAIS, GREICIELE; SALVATTE, JESSICA MARIANE SILVEIRA; FACHIN, LORENA; ARTHUR, BRUNO AUGUSTO VALVERDE; RIBEIRO, ARIADNA PATRICIA; MORAIS JUNIOR, NILSON NUNES; OLIVEIRA, KESIA DA SILVA; et al. Strategies to Maximize Kernel Processing in a Brazilian Vitreous Endosperm Hybrid. AGRONOMY-BASEL, v. 13, n. 3, p. 12-pg., 2023-03-01. (16/16702-2)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

SALVATI, Gustavo Gonçalves de Souza. Strategies to improve kernel processing and dairy cow performance in whole-plant corn silage based on vitreous endosperm hybrid. 2019. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC) Piracicaba.