Factors Affecting the Nutritive Value of Corn Silage

摘要

Numerous factors affect the nutritive value of corn silage and in rank order they are: maturity, storage, hybrid, mechanical processing, chop height, and inoculation (silage additive). It is desirable to keep oxygen away from the silage during all phases of the ensiling process from packing through fermentation and finally to feedout. It is commonly agreed that the desirable range of maturity to harvest corn silage is 1/2 to 2/3 milk line or 25-40 % DM. If corn forage is mechanically processed beforeensiling, as much as 10% additional energy can be gained from the silage. No specific guidelines are suggested for a chop length as 1/4 inch to 1 inch can be stored and fed effectively, with longer chop lengths suggested with processed silage. The length of chop should be determined based on whether or not the corn silage is mechanically processed and what other forages are utilized in the diet.