Maria Yaroshko, MA MBA, Associate NimATs

Quality corn silage best meets the needs of ruminants among all the roughage. It is characterized by a high concentration of energy and digestibility and a good milk production stimulating feed. The value of corn silage depends on the cultivation of maize, technology of harvesting silage, hybrids proper selection and harvesting time.The main purpose of growing corn for silage is not collecting large amounts of vegetative mass of plants, and a substrate of suitable quality silage, which should contain a considerable component of grain desired ripeness. Share of cobs in the total mass of plants should not exceed 50% as a cut stem is too high (above 40 cm) and a possible loss of the structural elements of the diet. Silage can be a major roughage for dairy cattle, and therefore its nutritional value is a priority for any economy.

More information read in the magazine «Milk and Farm» # 2 (15), April 2013