Survey of Current Management Practices and Evaluation of their Impact on Nutrient Content of Small Cereal Silage in Nebraska

Authors

Alexa R. Johnson, University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Mary E. Drewnoski, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Daren D. Redfearn, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Susan VanderPlas, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Jenny Rees, University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Ben Beckman, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Erin Laborie, University of Nebraska, LincolnFollow
Todd Whitney, University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Kim Clark, University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Brad Schick, University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Gary Lesoing, University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Conner Biehler, University of Nebraska, LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

2024

Citation

2024 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report

UNL Beef, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Abstract

The nutrient content of small cereal silage from 16 producers in Nebraska was measured at harvest and post-fermentation. At packing, 42% of the samples were below the target dry matter of 30-35%. Samples with dry matter percentage below 30% had a significant increase in the loss of energy (total digestible nutrient) content of the silage. The wetter silage appeared to have increased rates of clostridial fermentation as indicated by production of butyric acid. These data suggest that moisture management is a challenge and increased attention to ensuring the target dry matter content is achieved before packing could improve the quality of small cereal silage.