Evaluating potential of wheat varieties at different phenological stages for silage production

This study was aimed to evaluate the effects of variety, harvest stage and their interactions on nutritive profile, feed values and in vitro fermentation characteristics of whole crop wheat silage under Indian climate. Four wheat cultivars, sown in randomized block design with 3 replications, were harvested at the head and the milk stage and ensiled in low density polypropylene for 45 days. Results revealed significant effects of wheat cultivar, the harvest stage and its interaction on nutritive profile (CP, NDF, ADF, ADL), feed values (DM intake, Digestible DM, TDN, RFV, Flieg Score), in vitro potential (NGP, ME, OM digestibility) and fermentation characteristics (pH, lactic acid, ammonical nitrogen) while the variety affected acetic acid, harvest stage NDF digestibility and variety × harvest interaction effected butyric acid significantly. All wheat cultivars exhibited good ensiling characteristics at both phenological stages. However, the lowest ADF content and highest CP, digestible DM, RFV, NEl values and Flieg Score indicated the variety PBW 725 at head stage as most promising for silage production under Indian conditions.