The chemical composition and luminal degradability of maize silages depending on the cultivar and mowing height at harvest

The experiment was designed in a bifactor model with five maize hybrids (Rasant, Dragon, LG 2252, San and Magister), mowed at two heights, i.e., 10-12 cm (A) and 50 cm (B).The average yield of dry matter of plants cut at a height of 50 cm (B) was 130.5 dt/ha and was significantly lower than the yield obtained from maize mowed at a height of 10-12 cm (A), where it amounted to 148.1 dt/ha.The percentage of ears showed the opposite trend, with 55.3 and 49.2%, respectively.Dry matter in all silages ranged from 35.9 to 42.1%.B silages contained more dry matter and starch, but less structural carbohydrate.Dry matter degradation in the rumen of these silages was increased (65.5-70.0%).Effective ruminal degradability of crude protein of all of the investigated silages (80.0-86.5%)was in the same range as that of starch (79.2-87.3%).A tendency towards reduced protein and starch degradabilities was observed in B silages.The average NDF loss after 24 h of ruminal incubation of silage samples produced from plants mowed at the traditional height (A) was 65.3-66.7%.