Directory UMM :Data Elmu:jurnal:A:Animal Feed Science and Technology:Vol83.Issue3-4.Mar2000:

Animal Feed Science and Technology
83 (2000) 173±183

Evaluation of the chemical composition and the
particle size of maize silages produced
in north-west of Portugal
A.J.M. Fonsecaa,*, A.R.J. Cabritab, A.M. Lagec, E. Gomesa
a

Instituto de CieÃncias BiomeÂdicas de Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Campus AgraÂrio de VairaÄo,
Rua do Monte, Crasto ± VairaÄo, 4480 Vila do Conde, Portugal
b
LaboratoÂrio de AnaÂlise de Alimentos AGROS-UP, Campus AgraÂrio de VairaÄo, Rua do Monte,
Crasto ± VairaÄo, 4480 Vila do Conde, Portugal
c
Faculdade de CieÃncias, University of Porto, Campus AgraÂrio de VairaÄo, Rua do Monte,
Crasto ± VairaÄo, 4480 Vila do Conde, Portugal
Received 30 June 1999; received in revised form 30 June 1999; accepted 16 December 1999

Abstract
The chemical composition and the particle size distribution of 37 maize silages produced in

north-west of Portugal were determined. Mean dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral
detergent ®bre (NDF) and starch were 28833, 819, 50245 and 22954 g kgÿ1 DM,
respectively. Particle size was determined by manual separation of fresh silage into three fractions:
material >30 mm in length; material between 30 and 10 mm in length; and material