The Corn Feed

As we have said before, BASF Plant Science takes a biological approach to evaluating silage quality rather than relying on NIR alone. One such NIR evaluation is MILK2006. Over the next few weeks, we will answer some common questions about MILK2006 to increase your understand and help you make the most informed decision about how to evaluate your silage.

Question:
Does MILK2006 take into account kernel texture (endosperm properties), particle size, harvest maturity and whole plant dry matter in assessing hybrid properties?

Answer:
Kernel processing score (KPS) is a potential input value in MILK2006 with scores greater than 70% being optimal. The relationship, however, between KPS values and in vivo starch digestibility measurements is not well defined. This can result in highly variable measurements between laboratories since most silage samples are finely ground prior to analysis (the grinding may mask differences between samples). MILK2006 accounts for harvest maturity via whole plant dry matter (DM). However, this does not account for differences occurring between hybrids with varying DM content in the grain versus forage fractions of the whole-plant silage.

As a dairy producer, you’ve worked hard to grow and harvest the best silage possible for your cows. Here on some things to keep in mind as you begin feeding your silage.

• At feed out, remove four to six inches per day across the entire face to reduce silage loss due to aerobic deterioration.
• If you are using a front-end loader, don’t scoop from the face of the pile. Instead, take the bucket and pull the silage off the face and then use the bucket to remove the fallen silage and all loose silage from the floor of the pile.
• Check for silage gas.
• Give the silage 100-120 days post harvest to ferment before feeding.
• Be sure to have your silage checked for dry matter and nutrient content.

Properly stored corn silage harvest decreases the chances of spoilage and helps make sure your cows are eating the best quality silage. Here are some things to keep in mind to protect the quality of your silage.

• Start by making sure your storage area is free of any moldy or bad quality silage.
• Fill your storage container as quickly as possible to discourage fungal growth.
• If you’re using a pit or bunker, make sure that there is a minimum of five minutes/wet ton for adequate packing.
• After packing, make sure that you have adequately sealed or covered your silage. Proper sealing will have an 8:1 return on monies spent.
• If pits or bunkers are used, it is recommended that 20 tires per 100 square feet are placed on the pile.