The Nutritive Value of Corn Silage for Milking Cows

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Abstract
Sixteen cows were depleted of their milk-producing factors on an all-hay ration to determine the effect on milk production when part of the hay was replaced with corn silage. An increase occurred in 22 of 23 trials in the amount of fat corrected milk (FCM) producedAb. of total digestible nutrient (TDN) consumed when the cows received corn silage. In 11 trials, FCM increased when the TDN intake was less during the silage-feeding periods than when on the all-hay ration. No significant difference occurred in the per cent of butterfat in the milk or in body weight of the cows when part of the hay was replaced with corn silage. Randomized sampling of corn fields just prior to ensiling in 4 different years indicated that each 100 lb. of corn silage was equivalent to 22 to 27 lb. of hay and contained from 13 to 17.4 lb. of corn grain. The data obtained from the feeding trials showed that the grain in corn silage contributes the unidentified factor(s) needed to balance the TDN in roughage; therefore, corn silage should not be considered a true roughage, but a mixture of roughage and grain.