2012 Fo r a g e g u id e - BrettYoung

EliteCornCorn is an excellent feed source for livestock producers who seek an economical feedwith both high tonnage production and high net energy. Corn, whether used as silage orgrazed through the winter, has increased the profitability of many livestock producers inWestern Canada. The Elite corn lineup is especially suited to maximizing the feed valueof your production acre. The silage and grazing hybrids are all high tonnage varieties withlots of leaf mass, large cob size and great feed value.Ensiling Your Corn at the Right TimeIt is essential to monitor the crop maturity and moisture content in order to ensile at theproper time and ensure maximum energy and good fermentation.When the corn is ensiled above 70% moisture, it has probably been harvested too early.This will result in a loss of nutrients due to seepage from the silo and also result in anundesirable clostridia fermentation.40Harvesting corn silage too dry will result in poor packing, inadequate air exclusion, poorfermentation and heating. This means higher dry matter losses, greater spoilage andpoor bunk life as the crop is exposed to yeasts and molds. Lower moisture silage meansa lower starch and fibre digestibility. Kernels that are hard can pass through the cowundigested, although using a processor or chopping finer can partially compensate.Fibre digestibility has been found to decrease by over 10% as moisture decreases from70% to 58%.Table 1 – Recommended moisture contents for corn silagestored in various types of silosSilo typeRecommended moisture contentof the entire plant (%)Upright concrete stave silos 62 – 67 %Upright “oxygen-limiting” silos 50 – 60 %Horizontal bunker silos 65 – 70 %Bag silos 60 – 70 %Table 2 – Moisture at harvest% moistureof entire plantGrain stage.70 – 80 70 – 75 65 – 70 Less than 65Milk stage.Grain is easyto crush.Liquid comesout of thegrain.Dough stage.Easy to crush.No liquidcomes out ofthe grain.Hard doughstage. Difficultto scratch withthe nail.Vitreous.Doesn’tscratch withthe nail.The maturity line of the grain is indicative of the entire plant moisture, although therewill be variability for individual hybrids and different years. Nevertheless, the maturityline method is a good indicator to start testing plant moisture except if there has beena killing frost. Another quick method to determine the harvest stage is to twist the stemof the corn plant just under the cob node. If almost no water comes out of the stem, thecorn is ready to ensile. If the whole plant moisture allows it, it would be preferable toharvest before a frost occurs to minimize nutritional loss.