Corn Silage Management

• To reap the benefits of corn silage, it must be of high quality.

• Silage management is influenced by several factors such as harvest timing, product selection, plant population, ensiling, storage, and height/length of the cut.

• Before formulating rations, silage should be analyzed at a laboratory to determine dry matter content and nutrient levels.

The best time for harvesting corn for silage is when the kernels are well dented, the moisture content of the corn plant is between 65 to 70%, which equals 30 to 40% of dry matter (DM), and leaves have not turned brown. The quantity and quality of the silage are at peak during this time. Substantial seepage and storage losses often occur to silage containing 75% moisture content or more.¹

Harvest Timing: The kernel milk line growth stage is a common visual tool to estimate kernel moisture and starch content. To estimate moisture and starch content, break a corn ear in half and look at the milk line on the developing kernels (Figure 1). Generally, when the milk line is 1/2 to 2/3 down from the kernel crown, total plant moisture content is between 60 to 70%. More accurate tools for measuring moisture content are a microwave oven, drying oven, or a commercial forage moisture tester.

Product Selection: Selecting the right corn product is one of the most important factors affecting silage quality and tonnage potential. Silage products that mature slightly later (5 to 10 more days in relative maturity (RM)) than grain products generally produce greater tonnage. However, selecting products with a range in RM can widen the harvest window. Products that take advantage of a longer growing season can accumulate more dry matter.² At harvest, grain represents about 1/3 to 1/2 of the whole plant dry weight.¹

Plant Population: Silage quality and yield potential are significantly affected by plant population. Planting rates for corn silage should be 10 to 15% higher than those recommended for grain production. However, higher densities can produce smaller plants and ears which may reduce tonnage potential.³ Protein content and digestibility can also be decreased at higher populations.

Ensiling: Air and rain infiltration can cause poor fermentation and spoilage. Rain will increase moisture/seepage, which can lead to the development of undesirable bacteria and an increase in nutrient leaching, all of which can reduce the silage nutritional value.When possible, corn for silage should be harvested at a moisture content appropriate for the type of silo to be used. There are several types; upright or tower silos, bunker silos, and bag silos. Aim for 60% moisture content for silage going into an upright silo and around 70% moisture content for a bunker silo, because of increased packing capabilities. Silage moisture content can be tested using a “grab test” method. Squeeze the chopped forage into a ball and hold for 20 to 30 seconds. If moisture content within the ball is over 75%, the ball will hold its shape. Balls with no juice and falling apart contain 60 to 70% moisture content, while balls with no integrity contain less than 60% moisture content. If the silage is too moist, seepage can result in damage to upright silos and cause nutrient loss. Corn that is too dry when chopped does not pack well and produces more air pockets when packed. Poorly packed silage takes longer to go from an aerobic (with oxygen) to an anaerobic (without oxygen) state. During the aerobic state, the consumption of nutrients raises the temperature, increasing the possibility of burning and reducing silage quality.

Approximately three weeks after ensiling, the fermentation process is completed and silage is ready to be fed. In upright silos, silage spoilage can be avoided if two inches of the silage is removed daily in the winter and three inches daily in the summer. In bunker silos, daily silage removal of three inches is recommended in the winter and four inches in the summer. Dry matter losses may be greater in the bunker than in upright tower silos. The losses can be kept similar if bunker silos are built with 12 to 16 feet side walls.⁴ The depth improves compaction, decreases oxygen, and reduces the percentage of total volume exposed to surface spoilage. If silos drain, nutrients can be lost in the drainage. Bunker or small upright silos have little seepage when DM levels range from 30 to 35%. However, large upright silos (30 feet × 70 feet) may have seepage even when silage is stored at 35% DM.

Cutting Height and Sizing: Corn silage is traditionally harvested at a height above ground level, which helps maximize yield potential and maintain the quality desired (Figure 2). Increasing the cutting height improves silage quality because the lowest portion of the corn stalk is typically higher in fiber and lower in digestibility; however, research has shown that increasing the cutting height of corn silage decreases yield potential due to the extra stalk that is left in the field.⁵

Corn silage should be cut into 0.5 to 0.75-inch pieces for packing. Silage pieces of this size can be packed more firmly in the silo and be more palatable. Ensiling is preferred to green chopping because of the fermentation process.Laboratory analysis should be completed on corn silage to determine the DM content and nutrient levels for use when formulating rations.

If the plants have been under drought conditions, nitrate levels may be elevated in the lower stalks. In this situation, cutting the corn up to eight inches higher than normal may be warranted to avoid harvesting the nitrate-rich stalk. Nitrate levels can be reduced by 30 to 50% through fermentation. Silage with high nitrates should be diluted with feed grains or legume hay.

¹Moriera, V.R. 2008. Corn silage management for lactating cows. Louisiana State University Agriculture Center. http://www.lsuagcenter.com

²Wheaton, H.N., Martz, F., Meinershagen, F., Sewell, H. 1993. Corn silage. G4590. University of Missouri Extension. https://mospace.umsystem.edu

³Schroeder, J.W. 2013. Corn silage management. AS1253. North Dakota State University.

⁴Sewall, H. 1993. Corn silage for beef cattle. University of Missouri Extension. Publication number G2061. http://extension.missouri.edu/p/G2061

⁵Nennich, T. and Harrison, J. 2005. Corn silage harvest guidelines and options. Western Dairy News, volume 5, No.9.

Bates, G. 1998. SP434D Corn silage. The University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service, SP434D-5M-9/98 E12-2015-00-082-99. http://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_agexfora/6

Roth, G. and Undersander, D. 1995. Corn silage production, management, and feeding. American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Inc., and Soil Science Society of America, Inc.

Web sources verified 08/30/2017. 130723070125