Corn silage is a popular forage for ruminant animals because it is high in energy and digestibility and is easily adapted to mechanization from the stand-crop to time of feeding.

Feed efficiency intended as the ability of cows to convert feed to milk.

Corn crop harvested as silage removes more than twice as much nitrogen, three times as much phosphorus and 10 times as much potassium as when the crop is harvested for grain. The removal of the stalks accounts for the extra nutrient removed from the land.

Corn should be harvested for silage after the ear is well dented but before the leaves turn brown and dry. The quantity and quality of corn silage are at their peak in this stage of development.

Corn harvested for silage in the milk or dough stage will yield less feed nutrients per acre than if harvested later. Corn also may ferment improperly in the silo if harvested too soon. Corn silage often is made too early because it is believed that feed is lost if undigested corn kernels appear in the manure. This is not true. Digestibility is as high for well-dented kernels as for immature corn grain.