Evaluation of Corn Products for Silage Yield Potential and Quality

Trial Objective

• Cattle producers across the Great Plains rely on corn silage as a feedstock. A desirable corn silage product should provide a combination of high tonnage and favorable quality characteristics.
• The objectives of this study were to:
  • Evaluate nine Channel® brand corn products with relative maturities (RM) from 100 to 117.
  • Provide farmers with insight into different product options to help maximize yield and quality potential within their geography.

Research Site Details

• The study was designed as a randomized complete block design with three replications.
• Nine Channel® brand corn products with relative maturities ranging from 100 to 117 were evaluated for tonnage and quality characteristics.
• Sprinkler irrigation was used to apply 10-inches of water during the growing season. An additional 9.45- inches of rainfall occurred during the growing season.
• The trial was strip-tilled on 04/25/2022 with a base fertilizer application of 29 lbs of nitrogen (N/acre), 60 lbs of phosphorus (P/acre), 25 lbs of sulfur (S/acre), and 0.25 lbs Zinc (Zn/acre).
• Silage was harvested when most of the products were at about half to two-thirds milk line using a silage chopper without a kernel processor. Total biomass was collected and weighed. A sample of the freshly chopped material was collected and sent to Dairyland Laboratories Inc. for silage quality analysis.

Understanding the Results

Table 1. Key yield and quality characteristics of 9 Channel® brand corn products evaluated to determine silage utility.

• Channel® brand corn products 206-99STXRIB brand blend, 213-93STXRIB brand blend, and 214-78DGVT2PRIB brand blend produced higher tonnage than the other products tested.
• The growing season was drier than average and 214-78DGVT2PRIB brand blend produced the highest tonnage which could be attributed to the DroughtGard® Hybrids trait.
• In terms of silage quality characteristics, results for each characteristic were highly dependent on the specific corn product and not related specifically to RM. Table 1 lists the quality characteristics for each corn product tested.

Key Learnings

• Producers should work with their local Channel® brand seed sales team to help identify the corn product or products with the desired silage characteristics for their operation.
• Additional quality characteristics are available on request working through your local sales team.
• Corn product selection for silage production depends on the RM that the grower needs for their geography.
• Each product, regardless of RM, has a specific set of fiber quality characteristics and growers should consider the product options within their optimal RM range to suit their specific operation.

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