Corn Silage Production

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Drought-Stressed Corn: Silage is an Option

• Drought-stressed corn that is unlikely to resume growth should be ensiled.

• 85 to 100% of the normal net energy content.• May contain more crude protein.• May contain high nitrate concentrations,

especially in the lower third of the plant.• Do not feed until at least 3 weeks after the

silo has been filled.

Corn Silage: Nitrate Caution% Nitrate

(NO3) in Dry Matter

Feeding Instructions

0.0 – 0.44% Safe to feed.

0.44 – 0.88% Limit to 50% of total dry ration for pregnant animals.

0.88 – 1.50% Limit to 25% of total dry ration. Avoid feeding pregnant animals.

Over 1.50% Toxic. Do not feed.

At high enough concentrations, nitrates are poisonous to cattle.The ensiling process will decrease nitrates by 30 to 50%.

Corn Silage Harvesting

• Milk line is ½ to ¾ down the kernel.• Leaves above the ear should be

mostly green.• Dry matter content should be near

35%, slightly less for storage in bunkers, trenches, or stacks.

• Silage should be chopped into lengths of approximately 3/8 to 1/2 inch.

1/2 3/4

Corn Silage Storage

• Any structure that preserves the green and moist forage in the absence of air and water.

• Silo• Bunker• Bags

Corn Silage Moisture: Microwave Test

• Collect a representative sample of fresh plants.• Chop the plants in 1 to 2 inch pieces.• Weight a sample (about 3 to 4 oz or 100 g)• Spread the sample uniformly and thinly over a microwave safe dish and

place in oven.• Heat for 1 to 2 minutes and weigh. Heat for 30 seconds and reweigh.

Repeat until two weight recordings are similar. If the sample chars, use the previous weight.

• Calculate the percent moisture.

% moisture =fresh wt – final wt.

fresh wtX 100[ ]

Corn Silage Moisture: Grab Test

Condition of forage ball Approx. Dry Matter Content

Holds shape and there is considerable free juice Below 30%

Holds shape but very little free juice 25 to 30%

Falls apart slowly and there is no free juice 30 to 40%

Ball falls apart rapidly Above 40%

Squeeze a handful of green chop as tightly as possible for 90 seconds to make a forage ball.

Corn Silage: Production

• Planting Date– April 1 to May 1 in western Kentucky– April 15 to May 15 in eastern and central KY– Soil temperatures should be above 50oF at a 2-

inch depth for 3 or 4 days

• Planting Depth– 1 ½ - 2 inches (depending on moisture and

temp)

Corn Silage: Production

• Planting Population– 24,000 to 30,000 seeds/acre – increase of 2,000 seeds/acre over grain corn

• Row Width– 30 inches

• Fertility– Follow AGR-1: Lime and Fertilizer

Recommendations

Corn Silage vs. Grain Production

• Increase plant populations by about 2,000 seeds/A compared to grain corn.

• Add more pounds of potash per acre compared to grain corn (see AGR-1).

• Use a full- to late-season, high grain producing hybrid.

Silo Gases: Caution

• Lethal gases - greatest danger is between 12 to 72 hours after filling.

• Run the blower.• Stay out of the silo for at least one week after

filling.• Keep doors closed between silos and barns.

Any experience of the slightest throat irritation or coughing requires immediate medical attention.

Nutrient Sampling for Feed Quality

• Collect a couple handfuls of each load of silage that is being unloaded.

• Keep the samples out of sunlight.• Mix the samples together.• Keep refrigerated until sent off for analysis.

Silage Publications

• AGR-79: Producing corn for grain and silage• ID-139: A comprehensive guide to corn

management• AGR-1: Lime and fertilizer recommendations• AEU-41: Temporary silage storage• ID-86: Using drought-stressed corn: harvesting,

storage, feeding, pricing

Corn Hybrid Types

• Dual-Purpose– Normal corn hybrids used for grain and/or silage

• NutriDense– Slightly higher oil and protein content in the kernel

• Waxy– 100% amylopectin (believed to be more digestible)

• Leafy– Have more leaves above the ear than normal

hybrids• BMR

– Lower lignin content than normal corn, making it more digestible

No-Till Silage Project

• Four hybrids– Dual Purpose– Nutri-Dense– Waxy– Leafy

• Three Populations– 22,000– 27,500– 33,000

• Two N Fertility Levels– AGR-1– Yield Goal

Hybrid effect on yield

02468

1012141618

Dry Matter (Mg/ ha)

Hybrid

ES213NDES112F2F7978464wx

a aa

b

N Rate Crude Protein

(lbs/acre) (%)

Green Chop Silage

120 7.43b 7.71b

200 7.81a 8.17a

LSD (0.05) 0.31 0.35

Corn YieldsLexington, 2003

Hybrid Type Silage Yield(Tons/A)

Ear:Stover(Ratio)

ES112 Dual Purpose

22.1 0.68 a

ES213ND Nutri-Dense

23.0 0.67 a

F2F797 Leafy (TMF)

24.6 0.39 a

8464wx Waxy 15.9 0.66 aNote: Interactions between population, fertility and replication prevent statistical comparison of hybrids for silage yield.

Corn YieldsLexington, 2003

Hybrid Type Silage Yield(Tons/A)

Grain Yield(Bu/A)

ES112 Dual Purpose

22.1 241.4

ES213ND Nutri-Dense

23.0 233.2

F2F797 Leafy (TMF)

24.6 203.5

8464wx Waxy 15.9 194.1Note: Interactions between population, fertility and replication prevent statistical comparison of hybrids.

No-Till Silage

• Data is being analyzed for second year of research.