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Degradation characteristics of stover of ‘criollo’ maize varieties used as forage in smallholder maize-livestock production systems of Central Mexico, in different growing periods
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 February 2018
Summary
The objective of this work was to determine the rumen degradation characteristics over the growing season of maize stover in two contrasting zones in the central highlands of Mexico. Twenty four maize plots were selected, three harvest periods P1, P2, and P3 were established in order to evaluate degradation characteristics at different development stages, for ‘criollo’ maize varieties of three grain colours (white, yellow and black) representing different cultivation practices given their different growing cycles. In vitro gas production (GP) incubations were carried out, and cumulative gas volumes were fitted to the Krishnamoorthy, Soller, Steingass and Menke (1991) model. The results indicate that more research is needed to evaluate why maize degradability and fermentation characteristics as exemplified by this work are not greatly affected by time.
Resumen
El objetivo fue determinar las características de degradación ruminal del rastrojo de maíz durante la estación de crecimiento en dos zonas constrastantes del valle de México. Veinticuatro parcelas de maíz fueron seleccionadas, se establecieron tres épocas de cosecha: P1, P2, y P3, para evaluar las características de degradación, en etapas de desarrollo diferente, de variedades de maíz “criollo” con tres coloraciones de grano (blanco, amarillo y negro) que representan diferentes prácticas de cultivo dado que sus ciclos de crecimiento son diferentes. Se realizó la prueba de producción de gas in vitro (GP) y los volúmenes acumulados de gas fueron descritos empleando la ecuación descrita por Krishnamoorthy, Soller, Steingass and Menke (1991). Los resultados muestran la necesidad de continuar la evaluación de las características de degradabilidad y fermentación del rastrojo de maíz y por qué, como se observó en este experimento, la edad de corte parece tener poco efecto.
- Type
- Research Article
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- Copyright
- Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 2006
References
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