Effect of Addition of Urea or Urea Plus Molasses To Different Corn Silages Harvested at Dough Stage on Silage Quality and Digestible Dry Matter Yield

Abstract

To study the effects of 0.5% urea and 0.5% urea plus 4% molasses addition to different corn silages on its quality, in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and digestible dry matter (DDM) yields, four corn cultivars, Arifiye, Frassino, Rx-947 and 3394 harvested at dough stage, were ensiled in cite litre silos for 90 days. Supplement, cultivars interactions were significant for most of the parameters studied, pH of all the silages was within desirable range. Among organic acids, lactic acid was highest in Rx-947, supplementation making no difference. IVDMD was highest in silages Rx-947 and 3394 supplemented either with urea or urea plus molasses. The highest DDM yields were in silages of supplemented or unsupplemented Arifiye and 3394 cultivars followed by Frassino. Thus these three cultivars with or without supplementation are recommended for silage making.