Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors Affecting Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) Digestibility of Vegetative Tissues in Corn for Silage

Dairy farming requires forages with high neutral detergent fiber (NDF) to maximize milk production, sustain cows’ health, and ensure the economic environmental sustainability of dairy farm. The objectives this study were determine effects brown midrib (BMR) genotype, agronomic environment, maturity at harvest on NDF digestibility (NDFD) composition cell wall corn plant tissues. In plot study, one conventional BMR hybrid planted subjected an abundant (60,000 seeds/ha 225 kg N/ha) a limited (90,000 180 environment. ruminal NDFD was determined in vitro leaf blades, sheaths, stem internodes. Cell walls from had greater than most Relative environment minimal NDFD. As advanced, decreased for various but not all conclusion, under conditions intrinsic characteristics corn, such as genotype harvest, effect or management.