Breeding for Silage Maize for Sustainable Animal husbandry

Maize (Zea mays L.) is not only an important staple crop for millions of people but also an important crop
and now emerging as a type of high-energy silage crop. Silage maize continues to be one of the best
supplementation options, especially in dry seasons. Breeding for silage also differs from forage hybrids
as, for silage, the grain being the richest source of available carbohydrates in the maize plant is an
essential breeding goal. Silage maize breeders may need to place greater emphasis on selecting for high
whole-plant biomass yield rather than focusing on stalk lodging resistance, grain maturity, barrenness,
and high grain yield. Leaf angle and orientation attributes, which account for the suitability of maize
plants for high-density plantation, may contribute to enhanced silage productivity. DMY, whole plant
digestibility, protein content, and the non-structural carbohydrate content of stover are other important
traits to ensure high-quality silage. Cell wall fiber in particular highly influences the nutritional value of
forage. Cell wall digestibility and silage traits (cell wall fiber content) have been extensively studied as
breeding targets for improving the feeding value of the forage crops.