Forage Types

Corn silage harvest is one of the most important events on a dairy farm as it can greatly impact your herd’s production potential for the coming year. Two of the most important items to focus on during corn silage harvest are whole plant dry matter/moisture and kernel processing. 

The constant trade-off between time and money management is a never-ending battle for producers. Fencing can be a particularly tough decision on whether to spend more money on materials or spend the long, hard hours fixing something that will inevitably be knocked down again.

You chop it, truck it, cover it, throw tires on it, sample it, unload it and feed it. It’s normal and day to day. That is, until the mundane becomes the undreamed of. 

Numerous studies have concluded that one of the most important influences on dairy farm profitability is forage quality: Higher-quality forage leads to a greater likelihood of a profitable dairy business. But what metrics of forage quality are most important?

A high-quality forage is the foundation for a successful dairy diet. One of the best ways to measure success is to test your forage before and after fermentation. Testing sets the stage for building a complete diet to keep your herd happy and healthy.

Managers and owners often have the tough decision of weighing what expenses must be reduced while still increasing profit and, above all, how to be most efficient. The initial impulse may be to cut some costs temporarily, but this may lead to long-term consequences, especially in terms of milk peak, persistence and total yield.