Feed Quality

If your 2022 silage is feeding sluggish, make sure you have a solid handle on its nutritional value and variation. Sluggish feeding value could be due to lower-than-average quality or highly variable nutritional value from week to week.

Corn silage is typically included at higher levels in a lactating cow diet. It can contribute significant amounts of digestible fiber, starch, and peNDF, as well as protein and fat. Most variability is observed in the fiber and starch levels and digestibility, which impacts dry matter intake, milk yield, and components. Corn silage data compiled from Rock River Laboratory for the West (W), Midwest (MW), and East (E)US regions is summarized below.

Mycotoxins are a type of secondary metabolites produced by molds. Most nutritionists and producers may rightly associate mold and mycotoxins in feed, but it is important to recognize that the presence of mold does not necessarily mean that mycotoxins are present, and conversely, just because there is no visible mold, it does not mean that no mycotoxins are present. Mold counts can still be a valuable tool for managing mycotoxins in the ration. Note that molds are a type of fungi, and for the purposes of this article, these terms will be used interchangeably.