Corn silage - a potential winter feed option for cattle

By Blake Jackson

With a bumper corn crop this year, many cattle farmers are considering corn silage as a winter feed option. However, it's important to weigh the costs and benefits carefully before making a decision.

Pricing Corn Silage

Historically, corn silage has been priced at 10 to 12 times the price of a bushel of corn. With current corn prices around $4 per bushel, a reasonable price for corn silage would be between $45 and $50 per ton.

However, it's crucial to consider the moisture content of corn silage, which typically ranges from 50% to 60%. When adjusted for dry matter, the price of corn silage can be comparable to or even higher than that of high-quality hay.

Nutritional Value and Feeding Considerations

Corn silage is a high-energy feed, but it lacks protein. To balance the ration, it's essential to supplement with a protein source like soybean meal or distillers grains.

While corn silage can be fed alone, many farmers choose to mix it with hay to extend their feed supply and reduce the energy density of the ration. However, this practice can be wasteful, as it dilutes the high-quality nutrients in the corn silage.

Storage and Feeding Management

Proper storage of corn silage is crucial to maintain its nutritional value and prevent spoilage. The silage should be packed tightly to exclude oxygen and promote anaerobic fermentation.

Once opened, corn silage should be fed regularly to avoid exposure to air, which can lead to mold growth and spoilage.

When feeding corn silage, it's important to consider the amount of feed required per animal. Large-framed, lactating cows may consume up to 80 pounds of corn silage per day.

Therefore, it's essential to have adequate storage capacity and feeding equipment to handle the volume of feed.

Transportation and Logistics

The high moisture content of corn silage makes it heavy and difficult to transport. It's advisable to source corn silage from local suppliers to minimize transportation costs. Additionally, consider the equipment and labor required to unload and feed the silage.

Corn silage can be a valuable feed resource for cattle, but it's important to weigh the costs and benefits carefully.

By considering factors such as price, nutritional value, storage, feeding management, and transportation logistics, farmers can make informed decisions about incorporating corn silage into their winter feeding plans.

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