Nutritive value of high moisture corn grain silage

Abstract

The procedure of ensiling high moisture corn (HMC) is based on its harvesting, grinding and storing in different structures with a moisture content of 30-40%. By means of compression of the ground HMC, anaerobic conditions, suitable for the development of lactic acid fermentation are established. This way of storing enables, even in poor weather conditions, when it is difficult to use drying or some other method, achieving the maximum utilization of the ensiled grain of the high yielding, late maturing corn hybrids. The storing of HMC is intensified, especially when the weather conditions are not favorable and when drying would be too expensive. However, such silage is not the commodity intended to market and, therefore must be consumed right on the farm where it is produced. It is understood that the HMC silage producing farms must have cattle and swine units. This investigation pointed out that practically there were no differences between the chemical composition of the HMC ensiled in bunker silo and silo tower.