Variation factors of the nutritive value of silage maize

The many advantages of fodder maize such as growth and yield potential, energy content, palatability and ingestibility contributed to its popularity and explain the expansion of maize crop areas during the last 30 years in Europe.<br>Although silage maize is the most widespread fodder plant worldwide, the prediction of its nutritive value still could be improved. To do this, the contribution of each factor of variation has to be elucidated, particularly the effect of weather conditions.<br>This paper summarizes the present-day state of knowledge.