Des Moines, Iowa
June 19, 2009
Moisture, heat, light can
affect the quality of corn silage
Growing conditions have a significant impact on the nutritional
value of corn silage, and though growers can't change Mother
Nature, they can be prepared and make adjustments during harvest
that can have a positive outcome for their crop, according to
experts from Pioneer Hi-Bred,
a DuPont business.
Growers can manage their corn silage through hybrid selection,
digestibility testing, chopping height and inoculant use.
The environmental impacts from heat, moisture and light can have
different effects on the nutritional value of corn silage. And
there can be different impacts during each stage of growth.
"Water is a major factor in the value of corn silage," says Jim
Smith, Pioneer livestock information manager. "If you have
excess water pre-pollination, it will impact the digestibility
of the fiber in the plant negatively. However, the extra
moisture will provide growth and tonnage."
Toward the later part of the corn plant's growth cycle, water
will add to the grain portion of the plant, adding energy
deposition to the plant. Of the total energy available in corn
silage, about 65 percent of that energy originates from the
grain which comprises approximately 50 percent of the silage on
a weight basis. About 25 percent of the total energy will come
from the fiber portion of the plant, and the remaining 10
percent comes from the cell contents of the plant.
"Energy is the vital nutrient that corn silage supplies to
livestock," Smith says. "If development of the kernels during
pollination is impacted by environmental conditions, the grain -
and energy - will be impacted, as well."
Heat and light also can affect corn silage. Heat is important to
bring the corn plant to a harvestable maturity. Excess heat
combined with excess water during the vegetative stage of growth
can be compounding negative effects on fiber digestibility.
Light is always a positive since plants need sunlight for
photosynthesis.
To a certain extent, growers can implement management strategies
to reduce the effects of negative growing conditions.
"Choosing the right hybrid, along with timely planting and good
basic agronomic practices, makes a difference," Smith notes.
Hybrid selection is a grower's first line of defense against any
environmental effects on corn silage. According to experts at
Pioneer, the correct maturity for a particular growing area for
corn silages is five to 10 days longer in relative maturity than
planting corn for grain.
Smith suggests growers can get a good indication of what impact
the growing season has had on the crop before harvest. Check the
digestibility by taking a good sample of the crop and send it to
a lab for testing. "If the sample is relatively low in
digestibility, try chopping higher to reduce the amount of
stalk, which is the most indigestible part of the plant," Smith
says. "Also, inoculate with crop-specific inoculants to maximize
dry matter recovery and animal performance. Within the
crop-specific offerings of Pioneer corn silage inoculants, every
bacterial inoculant provides an excellent initial fermentation.
Depending on the specific needs of an individual operation,
other products in the corn silage inoculant line have additional
benefits, such as increased aerobic stability at feedout and
improved fiber digestibility."
For more information, Pioneer provides nutritional support to
forage customers.
Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, is the world's leading
source of customized solutions for farmers, livestock producers
and grain and oilseed processors. With headquarters in Des
Moines, Iowa, Pioneer provides access to advanced plant genetics
in nearly 70 countries.
DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded
in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable
solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for
people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont
offers a wide range of innovative products and services for
markets including agriculture and food; building and
construction; communications; and transportation.
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For additional information about our company or our products,
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