Silage

Alfalfa silage is a significant feed source in many high-producing dairy diets. Every dairy producer understands the importance of harvesting and storing high-quality alfalfa silage. However, this is one of the most challenging forages to ensile consistently.

There are several reasons why more farmers have become interested in on-farm evaluation of the corn hybrids they plant for silage production.

Matt Mills had his neighbors scratching their heads, saying, “What in the world is he doing?”

There were soybeans growing in between the rows of corn. It looked like a mistake. What happened? Well, it wasn’t a mistake; that’s exactly what Mills intended to do.

The use of silage on backgrounding operations offers many benefits, particularly for those producers who own or rent crop ground. Finishing rations typically include 5 to 15 percent silage for roughage.

A total mixed ration (TMR) is defined as a method of feeding cows that combines feeds formulated to a specific nutrient content into a single feed mix that contains forages, grains, protein sources, minerals, vitamins and feed additives. This method of feeding has been highly adopted since the 1950s because it allows cows to consume a nutritionally balanced meal with every bite. Feeding a TMR has both advantages and disadvantages.

Corn silage is the predominant forage source used in dairy cattle diets. High-quality silage supplies energy and physically effective fiber to high-producing animals.