Silage

The word silage comes from the Greek word “siros” – a pit or hole in the ground used to store corn. Archaeological evidence indicates the Greeks and Egyptians were utilizing silage to feed livestock possibly as far back as 2000 BC.

Silage is a great option to integrate into your feeding program, but it is not a cheap endeavor. Aside from the time spent growing the crop, the process of storing it effectively to preserve quality can be time-consuming and costly. The traditional plastic and tire method can be a safety hazard for employees and creates waste that ends up in a dumpster if not recycled.

Silage can play a big part in nutritional programs for beef cattle and offers several advantages over hay and other feeds.

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. 

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?