Cultivation

Corn Silage and Haylage

Zea mays L. subsp. mays (Maize Group)

Corn is the gold standard raw material for ensiling due to its high sugar content. The use of haylage technology for this crop is experimental and involves harvesting at early developmental stages with mandatory wilting of the forage mass.

In the reference 761 varieties crop Maize, where this is mentioned in the description.

For silage production, corn is harvested at the end of the milk-dough or dough stage at a moisture level that ensures optimal fermentation. Under anaerobic conditions, lactic acid bacteria convert plant sugars into lactic acid, lowering the pH to 3.8–4.2. This process does not require sugar additives, as corn is classified as an easy-to-ensile crop and serves as a primary source of starch in the diet.

Applying haylage technology to corn differs from the standard approach and requires the crop to be grown using a solid seeding method. In this case, harvesting is carried out at early stages, during the onset of tasseling, with mandatory pre-wilting of the mass in windrows to a moisture content of 40–55 percent.

General information about the subject — on the page Silage and haylage.

Sources8

Varieties of Maize mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.