In Situ Nutritional Evaluation of Maize Varieties Harvested at Diferent Growth Stages

Abstract

Three rumen cannulated buffalo bulls were employed to evaluate 3 maize varieties i.e., Sa2000, Sa2001 and Gl2000 harvested at 40 and 60 days were nutritionally evaluated according to completely randomized design with 3x2 factorial arrangements. After drying, samples of maize varieties were crushed to 2mm size for chemical analyses through standard techniques. Dry matter (DM) and Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestion kinetics were determined in ruminally cannulated male buffalo bulls. As fodder aged, the degradability disappearance rate and extent of DM and NDF declined. However, varieties did not affect the in-situ DM and NDF disappearance, but it reduced as plant matures. Lag time for DM and NDF was shorter (p<0.05) in early harvest varieties than late ones