Digestibility research throws up new criteria for choosing forage maize varieties

摘要

The latest Wye College research reveals that animal performance responds to the different digestibility levels found in forage maize varieties. Could digestibility now become more important than yield when choosing a forage maize variety? Forage maizegrowers still regard yield as the main characteristic of a successful crop. Early-maturing varieties have helped take the risk out of growing the crop while enhancing dry matter yield at harvest. However, many researchers are now looking to establish whether other factors are just as vital -by seeing how animal performance responds.