Ensiling Management for Corn Silage
Niraj Suresh and Fabiana Cardoso Animal & Avian Sciences, University of Maryland
In Maryland, corn used for livestock feed will normally begin to be harvested in late September and in to October. After this dairy farmers planning to use corn for whole plant corn silage will begin ensiling the chopped corn (green chop) to allow it to ferment and eventually become corn silage. Ensiling corn is an intricate process that must be done correctly or else the farmer risks suboptimal or even spoiled feed which can have catastrophic consequences for a dairy operation. In this article we will share some tips to ensure that your corn can be ensiled correctly and ferment to make great feed.
Preparation:
- Have a well thought out plan beforehand: Ensiling must be done quickly for the best results, have everything ready to go before you begin. Know exactly what you want to do and make sure everyone is on the same page. Make sure to plan according to the weather as well.
- Have the right equipment: Due to the impact it will have on your feed and performance, ensiling is one of the most important processes on the farm. Make sure you have the best equipment possible and consider renting. Having the best silage, you can should be a top priority. For example, if you don’t have the best tractors for packing, consider renting a really good tractor from another farmer.
- Make sure the silo is clean: Remove all old feed and debris from the silo before you start packing it. This will allow for you to have the best possible feed and avoid contamination from microorganisms and mycotoxins.
Ensiling:
- If you are using a bunker silo, line the wall with plastic to limit oxygen penetration.
- When using a tractor to pack, go over the corn multiple times to make it as even as possible.
- Slope the silage down 1 to 2% away from the feedout face to encourage drainage from the face of the feedout area.
- Cover the feed as soon as possible when done packing. It should be done no later than 24 hours and preferably right after the feed is packed.
- Make sure to have adequate weight over the plastic cover, tires and sandbags are most commonly used with gravel or soil at the end on the ground.
- Use a tarp to protect the cover from weather and vermin.
- If using a tower silo, a forage distributor can be used to have a more even compaction throughout the silo.
- When overlapping sheets, make sure there is at least 4 feet of overlap in between sheets to ensure proper sealing.
- When walking on the plastic sheets, wear shoes that are less likely to tear it.
Having good silage is an essential for the vast majority of Maryland dairy farmers. A good farmer will make ensiling a top priority. For some farmers, it is only one day in the entire year. That one day can make or break their operation. Taking the proper steps when ensiling corn will ensure the corn has a proper fermentation process.
