By Zachary Curtis and Kassandra Hower et.al
As silo structures are opened after harvest, producers can find issues with molds, mycotoxins, and abnormally warm silage. The initial fermentation period in corn silage can progress in as soon as 30 days, after which producers can evaluate the fermentation and nutrient quality of ensiled corn. Producers may also notice that pH and starch digestibility levels continue to change over the following 180 days as silage acids continue to degrade some components of the starch molecules.
Submit a Forage Analysis
A forage analysis is critical to helping livestock producers properly balance rations, minimize purchased feed costs, and prevent animal health issues. However, a forage analysis offers value beyond indicating protein, starch, fiber, or other nutrient levels. Various commercial forage analysis laboratories have expanded testing packages to include fermentation quality analyses, mold and mycotoxin screens, and energy index calculations.
An annual forage analysis can also help you benchmark your forages against other producers and ideal nutrient levels. Since forage quality can vary from year to year based on growing season conditions, searching through a lab's quality data can explain yearly differences in starch or fiber content. Industry benchmarks can be found in the article Corn Silage Production and Management.
Source : psu.edu