Assessing Silage Quality

Forage crops serve as the main source of material for production of silage, while high moisture grains, although high in nutritive value, are ensiled in lesser quantities worldwide. Sampling is often the largest source of variation in the analysis process. Sampling of forage in the field is influenced by forage species and by the presence of grain in the forage. The most difficult forage to sample is a crop with large individual plants and a significant grain component. There is a greater potential for sampling error when taking a small sample from a very large chopped mass, compared with sampling forage standing in the field. Sampling of silage in experimental or field silos presents several problems related to the size and to their accessibility at any point in time. Accurate determination of forage dry matter content in the field is helpful for successful silage making.