The Silage ZoneFor many years, it has been a standard recommendation among nutritionists to wait until after Christmas to feed new-crop corn silage and high-moisture corn. This recommendation is grounded in decades of experience, but the science behind it is simple.

It all starts with the corn kernel's physiology and the changing rates of starch digestion. Concentrations of starch granules - encased in zein proteins in the kernel's endosperm - increase with kernel maturation and peak at the time of black-layer formation (about 35 percent kernel moisture). These proteins present a nutritional challenge by interfering with starch digestion.

However, over time in fermented storage, silage microbial activity and fermentation acids gradually solubilize the proteins in silage, freeing up starch granules for more rapid digestion by rumen microbes.

As corn kernels in silage and high-moisture corn (over 25 percent moisture) begin the fermentation process, they undergo the most rapid changes during the first two to three months in storage. It has now been proven in animal trials in both the U.S. and Europe that the rate of starch digestibility also changes rapidly over this period, providing the scientific basis for the long-held recommendation to wait before feeding new-crop silages. Both animal trials and protein-solubility analysis show that high-moisture corn appears to continually drift upwards in starch digestibility up to 12 months.

If feed inventories allow, wait two to three months after harvest to begin feeding your new-crop corn silage and high-moisture corn. By doing so, you will avoid the rapid changes that make feed consistency impossible. Having enough silage on hand to allow for longer waiting periods to feed new-crop corn silage is an economic decision based on the inventory-carrying cost of that feed.

Learn more about feeding new crop corn silage at the Silage Zone.
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10.6.2014