Evaluation of Corn Silage Harvested at Two Stages of Maturity1

The effect of harvesting an early maturing corn hybrid when the grain was at the milk, as compared to well dented, on chemical composition, ear to plant ratio, grain and silage yield, digestibilities, palatability, and milk production was studied for 2 years. The ears of corn at the latter harvest as compared to the earlier harvest made up a considerably larger portion of the total silage yield. Correspondingly, the leaves, stalks, and husks were a smaller portion of the mature than of the immature corn plants. There was a large incrcease in silage and grain yields by delaying harvest to a more mature stage of growth. Each year the crude protein and crude fiber were significantly lower and the nitrogen‐free extract significantly higher for the silage harvested at the mature as compared to the immature stage. The total digestible nutrients values were slightly higher for the corn cut at the dent stage. The mature silage was more palatable than the immature silage. The persistency of milk production of the cows fed mature silage was slightly higher than for those fed immature silage.