Corn Silage to Supplement Pasture

[Stocker Steve]

I have a source of cheap corn silage and the free use of two empty stav silos. I am thinking about putting up some feed to supplement pasture next summer. A couple questions for the board:

How much more waste should I expect due to leakage in the silo vs. using a plastic bag?

Are there any feeding issues, or effect on gain, from supplementing with corn silage rather than 2 or 3 pounds of rolled corn per day?

I have heard of people using sliding feeder panels on a bag. Any experience or suggestions with self feeding?

Thanks for the help!

 

[Dee]

If you are buying it already put up, not from a field, have it tested, so you know what you are getting. Last year mine tested out "as recieved" at 7.9% protein, 70% mositure, and .14% cal. So feeding it as a whole ration wouldn't be advisable. Will this be to cows, or growing heifers? If the silage is well eared, should be fine. As far as "leakage" that you refered to... I don't know if the "stave" silo is a bunker or an upright? The bags have some waste where it is exposed. So that will all depend on the size of pile/bag you have, how fast you move through it and if you pull the bag back down over the silage after scooping out of it. The chunks that have mold are fairly easy to toss aside when scooping up feed. Usual deal I get is a penny a pound to $18 a ton.

 

[mitchwi]

We used to put up silage, for winter feed only. I don't know how it will keep during the summer. As far as self-feeding, we would lay a pile in the winter pasture, drive over it to compact it and get air out of it, cover with a tarp, then put an electric fence all the way around, with one end using electric fence handles and moved it each day. You never wanted to move it too much or the cows would stomp it down. You'd kind of learn how much they could eat in a day. Sometimes with the worst of the cold weather here in the north, you'd spend some time busting the top frozen 6-8 inches up, we'd use a maul to do that, otherwise, the cows would just burrow underneath to the loose stuff. They also had alfalfa hay, salt and minerals, we didn't have to supplement with any grain. I don't have any experience with the silos, sorry.