Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » St. Paul, Minnesota » Plant Science Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #67987
Title: QUALITY MEASURES IN CORN SILAGE SAMPLES TAKEN FROM TWO GROWING SEASONS

Author
item KUEHN, CARLA - UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
item LINN, JAMES - UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
item HALLAND, SUSAN - UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
item Jung, Hans Joachim

Submitted to: Journal Dairy Science Supplement
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/16/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Corn silage samples were collected in 1993 (n = 47) and 1994 (n = 42) from Dairy Initiative and other herds in the dairy regions of Minnesota. The objective was to compare corn silage grown on the same farm or similar locations from two different growing seasons. During the growing months of April through September, total precipitation was greater (662 vs. 547 mm) in 1993 and average temperature was lower (13.8 vs. 15.2 degrees C) than i 1994. Crude protein, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) were higher (P < .05) and starch was lower (P < .05) in 1993 than in 1994. No differences were found in percent DM or in vitro NDF digestibility (IVNDF). In both 1993 and 1994, IVDMD was negatively correlated with NDF (r = -.73 and -.85) and ADF (r = -.76 and -.84) and was positively correlated with starch (r = .57 and .74). Lower DM digestibility values in 1994 corn silage agreed with dairy producer assessments of lower milk production even though starch concentration was greater. Other factors not measured by laboratory analysis, such as grain maturity, may be related to corn silage quality.