Feasibility of an All Silage Forage Program

Abstract

Interest in all silage forage programs has increased for the following reasons: a) In areas where hay curing is difficult and fieldcuring losses are high, silage offers a method of circumventing these problems, b) Silage feeding is easier to automate and more easily incorporated into a complete ration program than is hay feeding, c) In areas where corn can be grown, corn silage offers the potential of maximizing production of energy per acre. The all silage forage program can range from a combination of silages during the winter period to the use of one silage for the entire year. Results and possible problems would vary with the system selected and the level of milk production desired.Use of an all silage forage program would be more readily accepted if the dairyman could be assured that such a program would maintain maximum milk production, animal health, and profit over a period of years.