Corn silage chopping season is rapidly approaching, and now is the time to get ready to determine feed quality and hygiene. It is important to know the characteristics of the corn silage entering fermentation and storage to enable the dairy and nutritionist to make a feeding game plan and determine whether to purchase other feeds to complement the silage.
Knowing the corn silage starch content and NDFD will influence decisions on starch-type feeds or by-products to lock-in for the year. While starch digestibility will improve as the corn silage ferments and preserves, low NDFD forage typically remains low throughout storage.
The mycotoxin concentration will not go down during storage; rather, mycotoxin concentration increases due to dry matter loss and potentially mycotoxin-causing molds being stressed during preservation. Knowing the mycotoxin profile of the corn silage leaving the field will enable the nutritionist to predict what problems may arise during feed-out and develop a mycotoxin protection program for the farm in advance. Starting cows on DTX™ Concentrate 7-10 days before mycotoxin exposure will enable a successful Defend and Protect strategy for the herd.
The best practice for testing freshly chopped corn silage is sampling about 10% of the trucks or wagons coming in from the fields. It is important to get a representation of each field being chopped and brought to the silage storage structure. Create a composite each day during the harvest season by mixing all samples in a clean bucket. Use a cupped hand when filling the sample bag to reduce the number of small particles falling away from the sample. On the sample bag note the feed is 2025 green-chop corn silage, field(s) and date.
Contact your Agrarian representative to coordinate freshly harvested feed sampling and assaying. The Agrarian team is ready to assist in your preparations for feeding this year’s corn silage crop. Let’s determine the 2025 corn silage crop quality and hygiene now and develop a successful utilization program.
Caroline Knoblock, MSc, Director of Nutrition, Agrarian Solutions, and Larry Roth, Ph.D., PAS – Vice President of Nutrition
