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Effect of Maturity on Nutritive Value of Corn Silage for Lactating Cows¹

Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station, Blacksburg

ABSTRACT

Corn was harvested for silage at soft, medium, and hard dough and fed ad libitum to three groups of lactating Holstein cows (six per group) as the only forage in two trials. Each trial consisted of two periods. During one period cows received soybean meal as the only supplemental feed. Concentrate mixture (containing 16% crude protein) was fed at 1 lb per 3.5 lb milk during the other period.

Dry matter content of the respective maturities averaged 25.4, 30.3, and 33.3%. Milk yields increased significantly with dry matter content of the silages. Dry matter intakes of silage were significantly increased with advancing maturity and were probably responsible for the higher production. Differences due to maturity were greatest when cows were supplemented with only soybean meal. No significant effect due to maturity of silage was noted in milk composition, body weight gains, efficiency of milk production, or TDN content of silage dry matter.

¹ This research is a contributing part of the S-45 Regional Project entitled Nutritional Evaluation of Forage Crops.

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