PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY OF FORAGE OF THREE-WAY MAIZE HYBRIDS FOR THE HIGH VALLEYS OF MEXICO

Abstract

Production of fodder maize with high yields and good quality is a favorable solution to counteract the lack of feed and high costs of forage production, since maize used as silage constitutes 30 to 40 % of the daily ration used for feeding dairy cattle. The objective of this study was to determine the forage yield and nutritional value of nine maize hybrids and identify those that could constitute an alternative for dairy cattle producers in the High Valleys of Mexico. The hybrids evaluated were H-47 AE, H-49 AE, H-51 AE, H-53 AE, H 61 R, Tlaoli Puma, Tsíri Puma and Atziri Puma, along with an experimental material. The experiment was established in three environments: one planting date at FES Cuautitlan-UNAM and two at the High Valleys Experiment Station (CEVAMEX) of INIFAP. A complete randomized blocks experimental design with three replications was used under a factorial arrangement that considered the environments and genotypes as factors. Tlaoli Puma and H-49 AE presented desirable productive characteristics compared to the other hybrids evaluated, since they produced the highest dry matter yields (23.1 and 21.0 t ha^-1, respectively), in vitro dry matter digestibility (67.0 and 69.8 %) and crude protein (8.1 and 8.4 %). The harvest at FES Cuautitlán-UNAM at 125 days of development, produced higher yields in fresh and dry matter, lower percentage of crude protein and lower contents of acid detergent fiber (FDA) compared to the CEVAMEX environments. The Tlaoli Puma and H-49 AE hybrids are an alternative for cattle producers of the High Valleys of Mexico.