Corn silage is an excellent source of energy and fiber for beef or dairy rations. The quality of any feed source grown for cattle consumption is important for silage production, along with yield per acre. There are several considerations when growing corn for silage. Corn product selection, plant densities, harvest timing, whole plant moisture, length of chop, kernel processing, pack (bulk density) going into storage, ensiling, and uniformity of silage coming out of storage can determine the quality of the silage and ultimately the performance of the cattle consuming the silage. There are many similarities in managing corn silage for beef or dairy rations; however, there are several important differences to consider.

Plant Densities

Silage quality and yield potential are substantially affected by seeding rate. Corn seeding rates for the same corn product used for silage production are typically higher (10 to 15%) than for grain production. Higher seeding rates are used because they can increase the ton per acre yield potential. If plant densities are pushed too high, then the starch content of the silage can decrease. As plant densities increase, ear size decreases and vegetative plant parts increase, leading to a percent starch drop in the silage.

Determining Whole Plant Dry Matter at Harvest

A critical factor in putting up quality silage for beef or dairy rations is determining whole plant dry matter at harvest. The milk line or starch line in the kernel is often used to estimate whole plant moisture (Figure 1). Whole plant moisture is near 65% when the milk line is plus or minus 50%. However, using milk line as an indicator for whole plant moisture can be inaccurate which can cause the producer to put up the silage either too wet or too dry which and lower the quality of the silage. More accurate tools for measuring moisture content are a microwave oven, a drying oven, or a commercial forage moisture tester. The most important step when using any of these tools for estimating whole plant moisture is to use a representative sample from the field because the estimate is only as accurate as the samples taken. Whole plant moisture can vary depending on changing crop conditions, from one side of the field to the other or whenever a corn product change occurs.

Kernel Processing

Corn silage kernel processing should result in improved starch utilization which can increase feed efficiencies and/or milk production. The kernel processor is mounted on the silage harvester and breaks up the kernel into smaller pieces after the corn is chopped. This process does more than just crack the kernel, it opens the kernel up so when the silage is fed, the starch is more accessible to the digestive organisms in the rumen. This helps reduce the amount of starch that is passed through the digestive tract which is wasted energy not used by the animal. Pass-through starch can be measured by testing the manure.

Harvest Timing

Silage corn should be harvested at a moisture content that ensures good storage and complete ensiling in the type of silo used for storage. Depending on the type of silo used, the whole plant moisture can range from 60 to 68% (40 to 32% dry matter (DM)) in bunker, pile, or bag silos. Upright silo target whole plant moisture can vary considerably and can range from 35 to 68% (65 to 32% DM) depending on the upright silo type used for storage. Silage ensiled too wet may ferment poorly and seep. Seepage removes nutrients, particularly soluble nitrogen and carbohydrates. Silage that is harvested when the whole plant moisture is too dry can have air pockets that prevent anaerobic fermentation and allow molds to develop. In addition, kernels become harder and less digestible.

Laboratory Analyses for Silage Quality

While there are well over 30 different analyses that can be performed by commercial feed testing laboratories, there are four analyses important for comparing silage quality differences and for formulating a balanced cattle ration.

Dry matter (DM)

• DM is used to determine the moisture content of the silage and is expressed as a percentage of the feed sample.
• DM is highly correlated with plant maturity. As a plant matures, total plant moisture decreases, which lowers fiber digestibility and increases DM.
• As DM increases palatability decreases which often decreases intake and animal performance.
• Intake may be decreased if DM is too low, and this may also indicate excessive nutrient losses in storage (seepage).

Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF)

• The fiber content of silage is expressed as a percentage, with a target range of 35 to 55%.
• Dietary fiber is an important factor in the ruminate ration and approximately 25% of the economic value of silage is as a fiber source.
• The higher the NDF score, the lower the quality of the feed source. If the NDF score is too low, then another fiber source may need to be added to the ration.
• NDFD is the digestible fraction of the NDF and the higher the NDFD value the higher the quality of the silage source.

In Vitro Neutral Detergent Fiber Digestibility (IVNDFD)

• In vitro indicates that this test takes place in a solution of rumen fluid taken from live animals. By using rumen fluid to digest the fiber, the results should correlate with how well the silage will perform in a ration used for similar animals.
• This test is incubated for 24, 30, and 48 hours and measurements taken after each time interval. The test results measure the percent of fiber digested during these time periods indicating how rapidly the fiber is being digested in the rumen. The faster and more complete the digestion will identify which silage source has the higher quality.
• Neutral detergent fiber content and IVNDFD are used to predict dry matter intake (DMI) in both MILK2000 and MILK2006 calculations. These formulas are used to calculate the milk per ton potential which the producer can then use to evaluate corn products.

Starch

• Starch is the energy component in corn silage and is expressed as a percentage with a target range of 25 to 40%.
• Silage produced from a shorter plant with a large ear will often have higher starch content than silage produced from a very tall plant with the same sized ear. The weight of any plant parts (stalk, leaves, husk or cob) other than the grain, can reduce the starch content of the silage sample.
• As starch concentration increases, the energy value of the silage increases, and the need for supplemental grain added to the ration is reduced.

Minimizing Silage Losses

The most important practices for minimizing silage losses are to:

• Harvest at an appropriate dry matter,
• Fill the silo quickly with appropriate packing,
• Seal it well,
• Feed at an appropriate rate, and
• Maintain a firm silo face during feedout.

How Silage Rations Differ for Dairy and Beef Cattle

Dairy

• High quality fiber is critical for high producing dairy animals and silage can be an important source of this fiber.
• Grain is often added to a silage ration to increase energy levels, but too much starch in the ration can cause a potentially fatal condition called acidosis.
• Dry cattle (non-milking) are fed a modified ration which often includes silage and is formulated to help the animal increase body weight and prepare the cow for calving.

Beef

• Fat cattle rations usually include very little silage but rely heavily on starch to reach final butcher weight and the desired fat marbling in the meat.
• Lighter feeder cattle can be started with higher silage rations but are transitioned to higher and higher starch concentration rations as the animal’s weight increases.
• Beef cow herds are not typically fed a silage ration as they are raised in a grass pasture environment and are not supplemented with additional feed unless there is not enough grass to meet their nutritional requirements. If a cow herd does need additional feed to supplement their nutritional needs, then a silage ration can be the foundation for this feed program.