Dr. Dan Undersander University of Wisconsin

Dr. Dan Undersander University of Wisconsin

What s the Best Maturity? Want corn dried to 60 to 65% moisture If wetter leachate losses; butyric acid production If drier stand losses, less energy availability

Note hybrid maturity and planting dates of fields intended for silage Note silking date. Kernel ½ milkline will typically occur about 42 to 47 days after silking Once kernel milkline begins to move, measure whole-plant moisture of fields intended to be harvested for silage. Use drydown rate of 0.5% per day to predict when field will be ready for the storage structure Final moisture check prior to harvesting Sample 3 entire plants and chop.

Microwave Koster Tester Hand held NIR units NIR from Chopper

Microwave Cut/chop corn into 6 cm lengths Microwave for 3 min Remove sample, stir Microwave for 3 min Weigh, the microwave for 1 minute Reweigh, repeat until 0 weight loss

Microwave Koster Tester Dry, Weigh Repeat until 0 weight loss

Microwave Koster Tester Hand held NIR units

Microwave Koster Tester Hand held NIR units NIR from Chopper

Chopping length Considerations: Adequate physically effective fiber Longer chop length results in poorer packing Shorter chop length requires excessive energy (fuel)

1 cm chop length If longer Reduced energy availability Poorer packing If shorter Greater energy use/cost chopping Less effective fiber

Comprimento de corte (TLOC)

Breaks kernels Wider harvest window Longer particle size

All kernels cracked Chopping length 1.7 cm

Milk 2006 University of Wisconsin Corn Silage Evaluation System Randy Shaver, Dept. of Dairy Science Joe Lauer, Dept. of Agronomy Jim Coors, Dept. of Agromomy Form Input Kernel Processed yes/no Optional Starch Digestibility Tests Lab Value Lab Value Lab Value Lab Value Kernel processing generated 91 l/t milk or 1356 l/ha Patrick Hoffman, Dept. of Dairy Science Lab Value Lab or Book Value Lab or Book Value Field Measure Calculated from Regression, KPS, DSA, or IS-IV Calculated Calculated Starch Digestibility-1x % of Starch *Critical Data Entry* Required Inputs Calculated Outputs Liters milk Liters milk per metric ton per hectare Index Index Field ID Lab ID KPS % DSA % IS-IV % DM % CP % DM NDF % DM NDFD % NDF Starch % DM Ash % DM Fat % DM DM Yield tons/ha "normal" L001 no 35.0 8.8 45.0 59 27.0 4.3 3.2 15.0 93.2% 1608 24122 1 L002 yes 35.0 8.8 45.0 62 27.0 4.3 3.2 15.0 98.0% 1699 25478

Want greater than 95% kernel breakage Greater starch digestion Greater milk yield & fat % Less animal sorting of feed More expensive equipment More energy cost to operate equipment

Processamento do grão da SM

To determine if silage is adequate processed: Place chopped whole plant corn into pan/bucket of water Agitate so kernels sink to bottom; remove floating material and drain water so only kernels remain Adequately processed materials should have no whole kernels (as at right)

Shredlage Forage harvester fitted with aftermarket cross-grooved crop processing rolls set for longer theoretical length of cut to increase physically-effective neutral detergent fiber (pendf).

Shredlage Results Milk yield increased (about 1 kg/day) No difference in milk fat Though adding 10% chopped hay increased No difference ruminal activity

100 80 60 40 oxygen Bacteria ph oxygen 20 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Days Aerobic phase Feedout phase

Butyric Acid, % Moisture (%) 80 70 60 50 40 30 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 20 30 40 50 60 70 Dry Matter, % Visser, 2005

Silage Density (kg of DM/m 3 ) DM loss at 180 days (% of the DM ensiled) 160 20.2 225 16.8 255 15.1 290 13.4 350 10.0 Adapted from Rupple (1992).

Pack Silage Well

Heating is reduced with greater packing Porosity is a measure of the air spaces in silage Want porosity of less than 0.40 705 kg/m 3 at 35% dry matter or 225 kg DM/m 3 Less porosity more porosity

Change, Percentage Units TDN = dnfc + dcp+ 2.25*FA + dndf - 7 6 4 2 0-2 -4-6 -8-10 -12 Dig NDF Dig CP Dig NFC TDN Heating Degree Days > 30C

Wall Corner Top of Face Source: Bill Mahanna Bottom of Face

Wall Corner Top of Face Bottom of Face Source: Bill Mahanna

Filling Layer Example 3 1 24.1 3 Filling Ramp Cross Section 24 Progressive Wedge

60-68% - moisture

Use plastic film with oxygen permeability 1/20 that of polyethylene Plastic film from the walls is lapped onto the top of the bunker The top sheet is placed over the whole top surface A plastic mesh tarp is used over the top plastic film, providing US and animal protection, Gravel bags secure the film and tarp.

Silostop Cover side walls with plastic oxygen permeability 1/20 that of polyethylene

Silostop on left Conventional on right

ph 5,5 5,0 4,5 4,0 3,5 3,0 0-20cm 20-40 cm 40-60 cm Distance from Wall White Silostop

Top 15 cm of bunker Distance to wall 10 cm 30 cm 50 cm 150 cm Standard 43 53 58 57 Silostop 57 58 58 60

Make sure side sheet overlap at about 1 m Use Pea gravel instead of sand in bags so rain drains out better Put gravel filled bags touching each other end-to-end. Gravel filled bags can freeze in low spots; slope the sides to drain rainwater forward.

Total Acids Moisture (%) 80 70 60 50 40 30 16 12 N=137 storage location center side top 8 4 0 20 30 40 50 Dry Matter, % 60 70 Visser, 2005

Days to remove 90 cm 15 10 5 0 5 8 10 15 20 25 30 36 41 46 51 56 61 Removal per day (cm)

Dry Matter Loss (%) Dry Matter Loss vs Feedout Rate for Different Bulk Densities 25 2 3 6 12 Feedout Rate (in/day) 20 15 10 Bulk Density (Kg. As Fed/m 3 ) 481 641 801 961 (Lbs AF/ ft 3 ) 30 40 50 60 Recommended Max DM Loss = 3% 5 0 0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 Feedout Rate (m/day)

Too Steep To Pack & Hold Plastic Down Complements of Keith Bolsen

Original height 0.9 m Slime layer Acid layer 18 cm 38 cm

Digestibility (%) Intake (% BW) 64 62 60 58 56 54 52 50 Effect of spoilage on silage digestibility 0 5.4 10.7 16 Percent Spoilage Effect of spoilage on silage intake 2.4 2.3 2.2 2.1 2 0 5.5 10.7 16 Percent Spoilage

Mass Air Flow Theory Plastic Cover CO 2 Rises by Thermal Buoyancy Zone of Heating Air Drawn into Face Feed Out Face CO 2 Settles Longitudinal Cross Section of Bunker Silo

If feed 20 kg/day silage to 25 cows 20 * 25 = 500 kg per day If bunker is 5 m wide by 1.5 m high and want to remove.3 m per day and if silage density is 705 kg MN/ cubic meter. 5 * 1.5 *.3 * 705 = 1586 kg dry matter

Width of bunker (m) Assumes: 60 50 silage 65% moisture intake is 20 kg as is removal is 30 cm/day 40 30 20 10 0 Silage 3 m high Silage 2 m high Silage 1 m high 10 25 50 100 150 Number of cows needed to consume 30 cm

Face Rake Face Cutter Integrated with Bucket

Take home Harvest at the 60% to 65% moisture Use Milk line to determine when to start sampling whole plant for moisture determination. Chop silage with so all kernals are broken Pack silage to 705 kg/ m 3