Improving Forage Quality: Dreams vs. Reality - Penn State University

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Corn hybrid selection Leafy hybrids Most leafy hybrids are “silage silage only” only hybrids, but a few are promoted as dual-purpose dual purpose—for for grain or silage. Leafy hybrids have up to twice as many leaves above the ear. (I’ve (I ve seen as many as 12.) However, leaves don’t don t add to forage quality, only represent 10-12% 10 12% of whole plant yield. (20% more leaves x 10% = 10 + 2 = 12%) Therefore, there’s there s often less than meets the eye. However, leafy hybrids are hot! Why are leafy hybrids hot? Seed price and yield similar to non-leafy non leafy hybrids. The extra leaves are at eye level, where farmers can see them. them Leafies simply look great in the field. Leafies got sex appeal! 7 9 11 In vitro true digestibility (%) 80 75 70 65 Whole plant y = 0.83x + 73 R 2 = 0.88 Stover 1900-1929 1930-1944 1945-1959 1960-1974 1975-1989 1990-present Relationship between corn forage in vitro true digestibility and era of release for whole-plant and stover. 8 leaves above the ear Leafy corn Normal corn 5 leaves above the ear Brown midrib (BMR) corn hybrids Silage-only Silage only hybrids sold by Mycogen Seeds. Still a tiny portion of the silage market, but increasing. A naturally-occurring naturally occurring mutation causes incomplete lignin formation, resulting in high stover digestibility. Problems: Lower yield, poor standability, lousy drought and disease tolerance, very high seed price. Much of the benefit is from improved dry matter intake; especially good in high corn silage diets and for high-producing high producing cows. cows 10 12 2
Normal corn BMR corn 13 BMR planted May 1 Leafy corn BMR corn 15 17 BMR planted May 1 “Your Your grandfather’s grandfather s corn” corn The BMR gene was discovered many years ago, but BMR corn wasn’t wasn t commercialized until the 1990s. BMR is therefore competing with hybrids that are the result of 70 years of selection and improvement since corn was hybridized in the 1930s. BMR yield and stress tolerance aren’t aren t good compared to today’s today s best hybrids, more like corn grown 25 years ago. 14 16 18 3
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Improving Forage Quality: Dreams vs. Reality - Penn State University

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