November 25, 2004

Use Corn Silage Soon After It’s Moved

Corn silage will last for some time if it is stored properly, but it can spoil quickly once it’s taken out of storage, North Dakota State University Extension Service dairy specialist J.W. Schroeder said.

Some producers in this region were forced to turn their corn into silage this year because of poor growing conditions. Since those growers often have limited use for silage on their farms, they are willing to sell it to dairy producers who run short of silage. Those buying the silage want to know how long it is usable after the silo or pile is opened and whether anything can maintain the silage’s quality after it is moved, Schroeder said.

Researchers at the University of New Hampshire tried to evaluate the shelf life of previously fermented corn silage. After ensiling, they moved the silage to a new location. Then they compared silage treated with a bacterial inoculant containing mold inhibitors to untreated silage, analyzing samples for nutrients, silage acids, pH (alkalinity or acidity), molds and yeasts.

They found:

• Lactic acid decreased while the silage was in the temporary piles. Lactic acid is essential to maintaining fermentation.
• The decreased acid resulted in a higher pH, regardless of treatment. The longer the silage remained in these temporary piles, the higher the pH, reducing storage life.
• Adding inoculant to previously fermented silage after it was moved did little to reduce spoilage.
• Since the researchers conducted their study in the winter, it’s reasonable to assume that silage likely would deteriorate faster in warmer temperatures.

“So, if you must purchase corn silage out of the pile, cover it with plastic and use it up within a few days,” Schroeder advised.

For more information, contact J.W. Schroeder, (701) 231-7663, jschroed@ndsuext.nodak.edu.

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Source: J.W. Schroeder, (701) 231-7663, jschroed@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Ellen Crawford, (701) 231-5391, ecrawfor@ndsuext.nodak.edu

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