Corn Silage And Haylage Variability Within Bunker Silos
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21423/aabppro20044935Keywords:
haylages, Forages, dry matter, fiber levels, fermentation profiles, bunker silosAbstract
Forages, and haylages in particular, have a large potential for variation. Variability in dry matter, fiber levels and fermentation profiles within a silo can influence herd performance and animal health. Degree of variation at a given dairy depends largely on its ability to manage cropping and harvesting systems. One advantage that bunker silos have over upright silos and bags is that ensiled feed from a given load or field is spread over a larger area of the silo. Thus, changes in forage dry matter (DM) or chemical measurements occur more gradually than in other storage systems. However, variation can still occur across the height of a silo. To estimate this potential variation, eleven corn silage and nine haylage bunker silos from nine dairies located in central New York were evaluated.