Problems Associated with All Corn Silage Feeding

Abstract

The subject of corn silage in the ration of dairy cattle is again receiving the attention of research efforts after a period of time in which grass legume silage received the predominant emphasis among research workers. Cattle feeders, however, have become increasingly aware of the excellent forage characteristics of corn silage and its value in the rmninant ration. From 1947 to 1967, the corn acreage in the United States utilized for the production of silage nearly doubled; the tons of corn silage produced nearly tripled. 5[any features of corn silage are attractive to dairymen. In those areas where corn is well adapted, its use as whole plant silage results in an energy yield unsurpassed by any other crop. Perennial forages commonly harvested as hay or hay crop silage, decline in digestibility with advancing maturi ty and cows voluntarily consume less dry matter from them (60). Conversely, the corn plant harvested for silage over a broad range in matlLrity exhibits little change in dry matter digestibility (36); moreover, an increase in dry matter intake occurs through the range of 25 to 35% dry matter (30). The corn plant requires less water than several other commonly grown forages. The amount of water t ranspired per kilogram of above-ground dry matter produced has been reported (51) as 858 kg for alfalfa, 635 kg for oats, 372 kg for corn, and 271 kg for sorghum. With increasing herd size, limited land resources, and greater emphasis on mechanization, the trend to increased reliance on corn silage forage is expected to continue. ~ar ions aspects of corn silage nutrition recently have been discussed (12, 31, 49).