Aspects of Storing and Sampling Ensiled Forages

To increase accuracy of formulating rations containing silages for cattle, significant improvements of sampling efficiency and timeliness are needed.A composite sample of multiple loads of fresh chopped forage (ingo) for chemical analysis permits representativenss and convenience of sampling and timeliness of reporting.Silage ingo and resulting fermented silage (outgo) for corn and haycrop silages stored in a number of structures were sampled representatively and analyzed for crude protein, crude and acid detergent fiber, and dry matter.Equations were developed for predicting crude protein, crude fiber, and aciddetergent fiber in silage outgo from these variables in fresh forage ingo, with efficiencies of 69 to 86%.Dry matter densities and recoveries were determined for some storage structures, and importance of frequent determination of dry matter at feeding time was stressed.