Chemical evaluation of rehydrated corn silage at different water addition levels

Abstract

Corn has great economic importance, being the most produced cereal in the world, and most of this production is destinated for animal feed. In order to reduce production costs and risks, and increase the feed efficiency of ruminants, rehydrated corn silage is a good alternative. The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritional quality of rehydrated corn grain silage with four different levels of humidity. The experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Center in Federal Institute of Southeastern Minas – Campus Barbacena. The experimental design utilized was completely randomized. The treatments consisted of corn grain without reydratation (control), corn grain rehydrated with 30% moisture, corn grain rehydrated with 35% moisture, corn grain rehydrated at 40% moisture and corn grain rehydrated with 45% moisture, totaling 25 experimental silos. After 56 days the silos were opened and the levels of dry matter, crude protein, mineral mixture and pH were evaluated. The results showed that the quality of the silage was influenced in its DM and pH by the treatments with inclusion of water, reaching values of 70,74% of MS and 5,01 of pH in treatment with 45% of moisture. No influence was observed in PB and MM values. It was concluded tha the silage of rehydrated corn grain was influenced by the inclusion of water.