Corn and forage sorghum silages were
stored in pilot-scale silos for 180 days, and dry
matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) recoveries
and estimated OM recovery were measured
at three depths within the top 3 ft. of silage.
The unsealed silages deteriorated badly in the
top 12 in. Actual DM and OM losses in the
top 24 in. were higher in unsealed than sealed
silages at each successive storage period (7 to
180 days). The unsealed silages began to deteriorate
immediately in the top 12 in. in both crops,
and deterioration progressed to the second 12
in. by 90 days post-filling. Sealing immediately
after filling preserved more DM and OM
after 180 days in the top 12 in. than delayed
sealing. Silages from both crops, when sealed
immediately and treated with a mold inhibitor,
Top Savor®, had the highest DM and OM
recoveries in the 0- to 12-in. depth at 7 days
post-filling. Organic matter recoveries estimated by an
equation using silage ash content were highly
correlated (r>.93) to actual OM recoveries in
all unsealed silages. Estimated and actual OM
recoveries were not highly correlated in sealed
silages, particularly below the top 12 in.,
where OM losses were quite low in both crops.
