ChileanJAR

Chemical composition and in vítro digestibility of green and dry leaves in 15 samples of corn plants harvested at silage mature stage were measured. The main difference ocurred in protein level, which was almost twice higher in green leavas. No important difference were found in the level of liber, energy and the in vitro digestibility. Calcium content was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in dry leavas. The results explain, in part, the decline of protein when forage - maize is harvested at stage of high dry mattar cantent. Likewise, it is concluded the convenience to stress green leavas persistency at harvesting, not only in relation to electing corn germplasm to be seeded in a farm but also in the corn-silage breeding programs.