• MILK2006
• Hybrid ranking tool developed by the University of Wisconsin
• Uses dairy nutrition models to predict milk per ton and milk per acre
• CornPicker®
• Compares costs and returns for different corn silage hybrids
• Developed by Dr. Mike Allen of Michigan State University
• Silage-Specific ROI Calculator
• Mycogen Seeds has developed an online calculator to help you calculate your return on investment (ROI) from BMR silage hybrids

                                                                                              

 

Tools for silage moisture testing

• When kernels start to dent, cut four to six representative stalks
• Chop stalks together, mix well and collect sample
• Send to a commercial lab or use Koster tester or microwave oven to determine moisture content

• Allow sample to dry for 30 minutes
• Use a digital or LCD gram scale
• Add two points to the final reading as the Koster tester may not remove all the moisture from the sample

• Weigh a 100-gram sample of chopped silage on a paper plate, excluding the weight of the plate
• Spread silage evenly over the plate and place it in the microwave
• Place an 8-ounce glass three-quarters full of water in the microwave’s back corner to prevent sample from igniting
• Heat the sample for three minutes on high power
• Remove sample and weigh. Stir sample and return to the microwave
• Continue process of heating, weighing and stirring, but heat in 1-minute intervals To prevent burning, use 30-second time intervals as the sample approaches drying
• Continue drying and weighing until the weight changes by less than 1 gramThe final dry weight, minus the plate, is the dry matter percentage. To determine moisture content, take the final dry weight, minus the paper plate, and subtract from 100
• Repeat steps for a second sample and average the results

Tips for forage testing

• Test forages once per month to aid in ration formulation and management
• Take samples from several areas of the storage structure and mix to get a representative sample
• Place in airtight bag or container and ship overnight to the labIf you can’t ship immediately, freeze the sample until shipping
• Tests should include dry matter (DM), crude protein, net energy, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium. From these results, the lab can calculate sugars and starches expressed as either nonfiber carbohydrate (NFC) or nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) and net energy lactation (NEL)
• Neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD) measurement is a more accurate measurement of the true NEL value of the corn silage
• Starch content is useful if multiple hybrids are layered or blended in the storage structure, or when transitioning from one type of corn silage to another

BMR testing formulas

 

Calculating dry matter:

Yield x DM% = DM Yield

 

Calculating moisture levels:

DM Yield ÷ 35% = Yield @ 65% Moisture

 

Calculating protein production per acre:
Tons per Acre (DM) x Crude Protein Percentage x 2,000 =
Lbs. of Crude Protein per Acre

 

Calculating corn silage acreage needs:
(Number of Head x Intake/head/day x Days on Feed) ÷
Avg. Yield per Acre ÷ 2,000 lbs./ton = Number of Acres Needed*
*Does not account for an approximate 15% storage loss.