Effect of Ustilago maydis on the Nutritive Value and Aerobic Deterioration of Maize Silage

The common smut of corn, caused by Ustilago maydis, reduces the yield and quality maize forage. When heavy infestations corn occur, grain yields can be so severely decreased that most viable economic alternative may to harvest ensile crop. Only a couple studies have attempted investigate influence aerobic exposure on nutritive value stability silage, which is prepared from smut-infected maize. In this study, individual whole plants were harvested hand. distributed into three treatments: 0% infected, 50% 100% infected. fresh forage was ensiled in triplicate for 90-day period. Aerobic lasted 28 days. Samples taken day opening 3rd, 7th, 14th, 28th Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) calibration equations used prediction qualitative indicators. Silage had comparatively poor with dry matter loss, increasing pH low amount starch. It also distinguished significant temperature increases days 15 18 exposure. did not show changes over period experiment, although it inferior compared silage smut-free While an overall worse than non-infected maize, should adverse effect livestock health or production.