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Forage insight: managing high-moisture corn 


USA
September 10, 2014

The harvesting, storing and feeding out of high-moisture shelled corn or high-moisture ear corn is widespread among U.S. beef and dairy producers today. Using best practices can help ensure an efficient and effective harvest and feedout for the season.

Harvest management. The optimal harvest moisture for high-moisture ear corn is 34­­-40 percent. It is best to err on the wet side, rather than the dry, when harvesting earlage. Wetter high-moisture ear corn will have better palatability, higher cob digestibility, better fermentation and higher starch digestibility.

Processing. Like any ensiled product, high-moisture corn requires good management during packing and storage. Particle size reduction facilitates air exclusion during packing and helps avoid air penetration into the exposed face during feeding.

Storage. Producers should target a minimum pack density of 40 lbs. of dry matter (DM) per cubic foot for processed high-moisture shelled corn and 30 lbs. of DM per cubic foot for high-moisture ear corn to provide the anaerobic environment that will help improve both fermentation and feedout stability.

Bagging or covering large bunker silos with plastic properly held down with tires can keep the total DM loss to under 5 percent of the total dry matter ensiled. Cover bunkers quickly after filling to prevent oxygen penetration into the corn.

Inoculants. The primary benefits of using Pioneer® brand inoculants are improved fermentation, reduced dry matter loss, improved feeding value and improved aerobic stability.

Feedout. In order to minimize aerobic losses during feedout, it is essential that the producer remove a minimum of 4-6 inches of material from the face of the nonoxygen-limiting silos each day during cool weather and as much as 6-10 inches during warm weather. Keep the face clean, avoid loose material on the silo floor and remove the plastic back on bunkers only for that day's feeding. 

- See more at: https://mediaresource.pioneer.com/news/forage-insight-managing-high-moisture-corn/#sthash.AXlXSBdZ.dpuf



More news from: DuPont Pioneer


Website: http://www.pioneer.com

Published: September 10, 2014

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