Evaluation of normal and specialty corn for fodder yield and quality traits

To evaluate fodder potentiality of different types of maize, five maize genotypes grown under different use pattern such as baby corn (HM-4), sweet corn (HSC-1), forage type maize (J-1006), normal maize (DHM-117) and quality protein maize (HQPM-5) were analyzed for forage quality. Study indicated that forage maize exhibited highest crude protein (CP) with higher in-vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and lowest values of dry matter, ADF and ADL content. The baby corn hybrid (HM-4) was found almost at par to fodder maize in terms of forage quality parameters entailing its use as animal fodder. Forage quality of DHM-117 (normal maize) and HQPM-5 was also found comparable to fodder maize. Nutritional quality of silage made of sweet corn variety (HSC-1) was found to be better as compared to its green fodder. However, small loss of nutrients was observed in silage as compared to green forage, but it significantly improved its digestibility. The correlation data showed that CP was positively related to IVDMD but negatively associated with fiber components (CF, NDF and ADF). The study concluded that specialty maize possess the required characteristics of a nutritious fodder and its preservation as silage could significantly minimize the green fodder deficit in India.