Lignocellulosic fiber composition and the digestibility of silage maize hybrids cultivated in various locations

Silage maize (Zea mays L.) is extensively cultivated globally. The crop exhibits a consistently steady yield under diverse environmental and agronomic circumstances, possesses high energy content, and demonstrates favorable ensiling properties. This study aimed to investigate the properties of four ZP maize hybrids intended for silage production. The hybrids were cultivated at four different locations in Serbia. Dry matter content, lignocellulosic fiber composition, and the in vitro dry matter digestibility were assessed. An unlabeled silage maize hybrid was used as a control for comparison of the analyzed traits. Coefficients of variation were calculated to compare the differences in hybrid performance at different locations in Serbia. The results suggest that all of the hybrids used in this study are promising candidates for the production of high-quality silage for ruminant nutrition.