1. The com must be in the dent stage of maturity to assure
maximum energy yields, and the moisture level should be
between 62% and 68%.
2. The chopper must cut the com cleanly and uniformly
without chopping it too finely - Silage that is not coarse
enough can lead to problems with rumen acidosis and
depressed butterfat. The theoretical cut should be at least
Vt inch, and a recutter screen should never be used. Also,
the knives must be sharpened frequently.
#515
16% Textured Dairy
$138.26 Net/Ton
Coarse Chop—Best
Corn silage harvesting season is here, and it’s time to fill your silos with high-quality corn silage. Since
any feeding program (which is designed to allow cows to produce to their maximum potential) must be
based on excellent forages, Pennfield would like to review some of the fundamentals of making top-notch
com silage.
One good method of determining when maturity of your com is to look for the “black layer” in the com
kernels. When com reaches the point where all of the yield is made, several layers of cells near the tips of the
kernels turn black forming a “black layer.”
To find this, break an ear, remove a few kernels, and split them lengthwise. If mature, a black layer will be
visible near the tips of the kernels.
Your com is mature about 55 to 60 days after the com is 75 percent silked. At this point, the kernels contain 30
to 35 percent moisture, the ear com will contain 40 to 45 percent moisture and the whole plant will contain 62 to
68 percent moisture or 32 to 38 percent dry matter.
Compare Com Silage Versus Ear Com
In a 100 bushel per acre com crop, the grain harvested alone yields about 4,500 pounds of TDN, while the
same 100 bushel per acre harvested as com silage yields 20 tons of silage containing 8,000 pounds of TDN. Com
silage provides all the nutrients stored in the grain, plus all the feed value available in the stover, which is
about 57 percent digestible.
#526 Pellet
26% Hi-Moist.
Com Cone.
$160.29 Net/Ton $204.17 Net/Ton
Includes 8 ton volume discount and cash
Prices effective Sept. 22,1986 and
#519
20% Dairy Pellet
Make Top-Notch Corn Silage
Ti
3. Fill the silos as rapidly as possible and be sure to
distribute the silage evenly in the silo. If the mat
erial is being stored in a pit or bunker silo, better
packing can be achieved using a wheel, tractor
rather than a bulldozer.
4. Seal the silo as soon as possible after filling to
avoid spoilage.
To Harvest
#537 Meal #538 Meal #534 Cone.
37% Var-Pro 38% Fixed Formula 34% CP -6%% Fat
(All Natural) (All Natural) (All Natural)
$205.92 Net/Ton $228.74 Net/Ton $258.38 Net/Ton
discount of 2%% due 15th following month.
subject to change with grain markets.)
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, September 20,1986-A5