Losses from top spoilage in horizontal silos

Date

2010-09-10T20:04:59Z

Authors

Holthaus, D.L.
Brent, B.E.
Pfaff, L.
Bolsen, K.K.
Young, Matthew A.

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Kansas State University. Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service

Abstract

The top 3 ft of silage from 127 horizontal silos was sampled at three locations across the width of the silo during a 4-year period (1990 through 1993). Ninety-six percent of the silages were either corn or forage sorghum, and only 18 percent of the silos were sealed with polyethylene sheeting . Losses of organic matter (OM) from spoilage were estimated by using ash content as an internal marker. Sealing silos dramatically reduced the estimated spoilage losses in the top 3 ft. All silages had greater estimated spoilage losses in the top 18 inches in 1991 and 1993 than 1990 and 1992. Sealing reduced spoilage losses of OM in the to p 18 inches by 16, 37, 19, and 36 percentage units in 1990 through 1993, respectively , and in the second 18 inches by 4, 13, 3, and 7 percentage units. Dry matter (DM) contents were lower for forage sorghum silages in the top 18 inches than for corn silages in the first 3 years, and i n all 4 years, DM contents for sealed silages were lower than those for unsealed silages. Silage had higher pH values in the top 1 8 inches than in the second 18 inches.

Description

Keywords

Beef, Survey, Top spoilage, Silage, Bunker, Trench

Citation