![Page 1: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Where does corn fit into my forage production
system?
Jean Brisson. agr.R&D Valacta
![Page 2: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Outline
1. Introduction
2. Interesting to grow corn?
3. Corn feeds
1. Corn silage
2. Earlage/Snaplage
3. Corn grain
4. Conclusions
![Page 3: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
INTRODUCTION
![Page 4: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Corn market
![Page 5: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Soybean meal market
![Page 6: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Source: http://www.fpccq.qc.ca/Files/prix_Cr_grains.pdf
Lower price in fall?
![Page 7: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Quebec corn market(2009 to 2013)
220
225
230
235
240
245
250
255
260
Jan. Feb. March April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Pric
e ($
/ton)
Source: http://www.fpccq.qc.ca/Files/prix_Cr_grains.pdf
![Page 8: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
• Do you know your feed cost?• Do you know your concentrate
cost?– $/hl– $/kg quota– $/ton
• Do you know your milk to concentrate ratio?
• Do you know your cost of production of forage?
Feed cost
![Page 9: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
• Corn is demanding– Heat– Water– Competition– Soil pH– Nutrients
• If you don’t do everything right, it shows from the road…
To grow corn
![Page 10: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
• It is possible to grow corn where it was not possible 25-30 years ago
– Climate change– Corn genetic
To grow corn
![Page 11: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
![Page 12: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
![Page 13: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
![Page 14: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
![Page 15: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
• Yield is so important!– Ton per hectare
• Quality is so important!– ADF is key item to watch
To grow corn
![Page 16: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
• Do you measure yield on your farm?• Pretty easy to figure out
– Silage box holds• 16 feet :1.7 ton dry matter• 18 feet: 2.0 tons • 24 feet: 2.6 tons
To grow corn
![Page 17: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
Corn silage yield varies a lot
2500
5000
7500
10000
12500
15000
17500
20000
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Yiel
d (k
g d.
m./
ha)
Region/zone
Corn silage yield in different Quebec region(Financière agricole du Québec, 2007)
![Page 18: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Corn feeds
Corn grower can:• Corn silage
– Cut high or low• Snaplage/Earlage• Corn grain
– High moisture– Dry
![Page 19: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Part Average (D.M.)
Grain 20-50%
Stalk 17-40%
Leaves 15-25%
Cob 6-10%
Corn plant composition
![Page 20: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Corn silage plant composition
Part of the plant % of whole plant % NDF Digest. NDF
(%)Digest. dry matter
(%)
Tassel < 1 78.4 53.4 63.5
Leave node 6.1 78.1 60.3 69.0
Ear leave 5.8 80.5 69.5 75.4
Leaves 8.5 66.7 73.2 82.1
Ear 12.1 89.3 31.9 39.2
Stalk 18.3 66.5 61.5 74.4
Grain 48.5 11.8 89.7 90.0
Mike Allen. 1995
![Page 21: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Corn silage may fit
• Potentially high yield crop – According to La Financière Agricole: 4.8 to
16.6 t. dry matter /ha as compared with grass (1.6 to 6.7t./ha)
• Usually palatable feed • Conservation is good most of the time• Potentially high energy forage• Harvesting is easier than grass silage• Can be harvested 24 hours per day if needed• Requires a lot of Nitrogen (manure user)
![Page 22: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Corn silage has its limitation
• Low protein
• Low mineral
• Require more storage capacity
![Page 23: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
Corn silage isn’t a magic feed
• Decades ago, corn silage has been blamed for health problem like:
– Fat cow syndrome– Ketosis– DA’s– Low production
• Corn silage based ration along with average quality grass silage requires quite a bit of protein supplementation to cover the needs
• Ration has to be well balanced to deliver good performances
![Page 24: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
Forage base program in Valacta herds (2012)
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
Kg
per
cow
per
yea
r
Corn silage
Haylage
Hay
Pasture
![Page 25: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
Without corn silage With corn silage
Number of herds 1428 1147
Number of cows 44 63
Production
Milk (kg/cow/yr) 8258 8832
Butterfat (%) 3.81 3.84
Protein (%) 3.21 3.25
SCC('000 cell/ml) 247 264
ReproductionCalving interval 425 427
Breeding per cow 2.18 2.25
Feed costForage & conc. ($/hl) 17.95 16.87
Conc. ($/hl) 10.52 10.20
Herd performance with and without corn silage
Source : Valacta. August 2008
![Page 26: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
MORE MILK WITH CORN SILAGE
![Page 27: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
More milk with corn silage but not always!
![Page 28: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
![Page 29: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
CORN SILAGE
![Page 30: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
Feed cost with and without corn silage depends on corn and soybean meal market
Low/Low Low/High High/Low High/High10
12
14
16
18
20
Impact for a herd of 100 cows
With Without
Price of corn/ Price of soybean meal
Feed
cos
t ($/
hl)
- 71 $ + 37 $
- 48 $- 70 $
![Page 31: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
Only good corn silage will deliver good performances
What are the features of good corn silage?
![Page 32: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
Composition varies quite a bit
Source: Valacta lab
![Page 33: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/33.jpg)
Composition varies quite a bit
Source: Valacta lab
![Page 34: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/34.jpg)
Hybrid Yield(t. d.m./ha)
NDFd(%)
Starch(%)
Milk (kg/ton)
Milk(kg/ha)
A 21.3 59 23 1 625 34 508B 20.8 61 37 1 680 35 180C 21.1 56 34 1 595 33 948D 14.8 68 31 1 860 27 449E 21.7 65 34 1 780 38 653F 22.6 62 35 1 740 39 662G 24.0 62 27 1 690 40 446
Average 19.9 61 33 1 800 35 852
Pick the right hybrid for your needs
Source: Rankin. M., University of Wisconsin
![Page 35: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/35.jpg)
Harvested at the right moisture
< 28 %
28 – 32 %
32 – 36 %
36 – 40 %
> 40 %
Number of trials 5 19 35 30 16
Dry matter intake (kg/d) 24.2 23.6 24.1 23.8 24.1
Production (kg/d) 36.1 37.3 36.4 36.2 34.5
4% Fat corrected milk (kg/d)
33.5 34.7 33.5 33.0 31.0
Butterfat (%) 3.58 3.59 3.51 3.45 3.42
Protein (%) 3.05 3.07 3.11 3.10 3.10
Total tract starch digestibility (%)
93.2 94.0 92.1 93.4 91.3
Source: Shaver, Tri-State Nutrition Conference, 2012
![Page 36: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/36.jpg)
Harvest at the right stage
R2 = 0.40
40
50
60
70
80
0255075100Kernel milk stage
Who
le p
lant
moi
stur
e (%
)
n = 1896
Dent Black layer Source: Leduc, Pioneer, 2009
Relationship between grain maturity and whole plant moisture (1990 - 1999)
![Page 37: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/37.jpg)
Kernel processor
1 – 3 mm 4 – 8 mmNumber of trials 43 7Dry matter intake (kg/day) 23.9 23.3Production (kg/day) 36.6 34.64% fat corrected milk (kg/day) 33.2 31.5Butterfat ( % ) 3.44 3.42Protein ( % ) 3.10 3.05Starch digestibility ( % ) 94.8 88.9
Source: Shaver, Tri-State Nutrition Conference, 2012
![Page 38: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/38.jpg)
Source: Kung. 2004
Kernel processor
![Page 39: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/39.jpg)
Source: Kung. 2004
Kernel processor
![Page 40: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/40.jpg)
Corn silage aerobic stability at feedout
Ask Robert, he is the expert
![Page 41: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/41.jpg)
Corn silage starch digestibility increases over time of storage
45
50
55
60
65
0 45 90 120 180 270
Effect of time of storage on starch digestibility and protein solubility
% sol. prot. % starch digest.
20%
Source: Mahanna. 2009
![Page 42: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/42.jpg)
Corn products
• Snaplage/Earlage• Corn grain
![Page 43: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/43.jpg)
Corn producer
![Page 44: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/44.jpg)
Corn products
![Page 45: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/45.jpg)
Starch site of digestion
• Starch may be digested :– In the rumen (80 % efficiency)– In the small intestine (97 %
efficiency)– In the large intestine(44 % efficiency)
• What is the best ?– There is a limited potential for
digestion in small intestine– Starch digestion is pretty limited in
large intestine…Source : Beauchemin, 2006
![Page 46: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/46.jpg)
Corn presentation effect on starch digestibility
Source : Firkins. 2001
Corn product Rumen starch digestibility
Total tract starch digestibility
Craked corn 45 85
Ground corn 52 91
Flaked corn 57 94
High moisture rolled corn 87 94
![Page 47: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/47.jpg)
Equipment Volume(t)
Cost($)
Shrinkage and fermentation loss (%)
Cost($/ton fed)
Dry grain bin 100 15 375 3 16.00
Air tight silo and unloader 222 52 350 6 32.00
Roller mill/ Hammer mill 100 4 500 0.5 9.33
Storage and processing cost
Source: Dry grain. agdex 732/821b. juillet 2007. Référence Économiques. CRAAQ High-moisture grain. agdex 732/821F. juillet 2007. Référence Économiques. CRAAQ Grain bin. agdex 732/110. janvier 2007. Référence Économiques. CRAAQ
![Page 48: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/48.jpg)
Interest cost on inventories
Feed VolumeAverage cost
($/ton)Usage
(t/week)Short term
interest ($/ t.)
Corn 150 200 3.0 6.73
Corn 10 250 3.0 0.56
Protein supplément 1 640 0.75 0.57
Protein supplément 5 630 0.75 2.83
![Page 49: Where does corn fit into my forage production system?](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022081512/568164e6550346895dd74dd2/html5/thumbnails/49.jpg)
Where does corn fit?
Thank you!