Corn Silage Yield and Quality Changes Over Time

Wisconsin dairy farmers produce more corn (Zea mays L.) silage than any other state in the U.S. A University of Wisconsin corn silage research consortium evaluated corn hybrids and found that the range for NDF and digestibility among commercial hybrids is narrow, but more importantly, yield and quality differences among corn hybrids were repeatable (Coors, 1996). In 1995, an extension program was begun to evaluate commercial corn hybrids for silage yield and quality traits. Desirable corn hybrids should have traits that include high dry matter yield, high energy content (high digestibility), high intake potential (low fiber), optimum dry matter content at harvest for acceptable fermentation and storage, and high protein content (Carter et al., 1991). Predicting animal performance and relating it to corn silage quality improvements whether from breeding or management is complex. Differences in fiber and digestibility translate into differences in animal performance (Bal et al., 2000).