Larry Chase, Cornell University Cora silage harvested in 1995 was highly variable in both maturity and yield. In many areas of the Northeast, com silage was ready for harvest 1-3 weeks earlier than normal. How much of this com is passing through the cow? A recent study conducted by Dr. Joe Harrison at Washington State University provides some initial information. The same corn silage hybrid was Stage of Maturity Dent Black-line Cora silage (CS) DM, % 36 42 % grain in CS 26.4 41,1 % com in ration from CS 9.8 15.2 lbs com in ration from CS 4.5 6.7* % com in feces, % of DM 3.0 9.0* lbs com in feces .5 1.3* % fecal loss, % of intake com 10 20* Dry matter intake, lbs 45.6 44.4 Dry matter intake, % of BW 3.04 3.01 Milk, Ibs/day 47.1 44,2* Milk fat, % 3.68 3.91* Milk fat, lbs 1.67 1.69 Milk protein. % 3.49 3.54 ' Milk protein, lbs 1.63 1.54 Dry matter digestibility, % 66.7 66.4 • *Significant difference between treatments (p=.os or less) The dry down rate was also more rapid. The end result was often a com silage that was How Much Corn drier and more mature. Kernels are hard and fre quently smaller than normal. The percent grain may also be low. Is Passing harvested at either 'A to 2 A milk line or at back-layer. The silage was then used in rations for mid to late lactation cows in a digestion trail study. Com sil age comprised 40 percent of the total ration on a dry matter basis. The preliminary results of this study are: The more mature com silage contained more grain and had a" higher fecal loss than the ear lier harvested com silage. Actual daily grain intake from the more mature com silage was still higher even after accounting for fecal loss. The lower milk production observed when feeding the more mature com silage fits with field observations. Dry matter digestibility was not dif ferent between the two maturities. This may seem confusing at first. As com silage matures, stover digestibility is expected to decrease. At the same time, there is a higher level of grain and starch in the more mature com silage. Com Talk, Lancaur Farming, Saturday, January 25,1997-Pagt 'hrough My Cows? The final report should con tain additional information to permit us to sort out differ ences in digestibility of the var ious chemical components of the two com silages. This information will be valuable in Pd. Sjjj/ Masterfl Corn ' IviW«. Growers Association explaining the milk production response observed in this trail. Just think: how much differ ence might there have been in milk production if this trial had been conducted with early lac tation cows? \y\yi ZM. 185
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers