Analysis of the feeding quality of 18 maize cultivars in North China

To improve the scientificity and effectiveness of maize straw forage, we collected 18 maize cultivars which are widely grown in North China. General nutrient analysis and van Soest fiber analysis were used to evaluate their nutritional quality. We used SPSS software to perform cluster analysis for the values of comprehensive principal component of maize straw, and to study their nutritional quality with typical feeding. Comprehensive analysis results showed that the quality of 18 corn cultivars was different: the order from high to low, Longping 206 Luodan 6 Xianyu 335 Xianke 338 Huayu 14 Yangguang 99 Denghai 605 Xundan 29 Huayu 12 Xundan 26 Xundan 20 Luodan 9 Weike 702 Yangguang 98 Liyu 16 Zhengdan 958 Liyu 35 Jixiang 1. The results of cluster analysis showed Longping 206 and Jixiang 1 clustered alone. Luodan 6, Huayu 14, Xianyu 335 and Xianke 338 were clustered in a group; Yangguang 99, Denghai 605 and Xundan 29 were clustered; Liyu 16, Zhengdan 958 and Liyu 35 were clustered; and Huayu 12, Xundan 26 and others were clustered in another group.The result of principal component analysis and cluster analysis showed the nutritive value of Longping 206, Luodan 6, Xianyu 335, Huayu 14 and Xianke 338 were best. These cultivars should be taken into consideration to raise the level of feed utilization of straw and increase the value of agricultural production.