This allows the bacteria in the rumen to adapt to the new diet. Failure to allow for adaptation to green-chop corn is asking for trouble. Conclusions and Recommendations 1. Green-chop corn is a viable alternative if other forages are scarce in mid to late summer. It is recommended that the dairymen plant a corn hybrid that maximizes grain yield.
Corn increases rapidly in dry matter, grain, protein, and energy yield with maturity.
Digestibility remains relatively constant at about 70.5 percent over the range of greenchop corn studied. Green-chop corn has about 80 percent of the energy value of corn grain on a dry matter basis. Green-chop corn can be fed to growing heifers or milking cows providing it is properly supplemented with protein, minerals, and vitamins. Care must be used to adapt animals slowly to green-chop corn. Under drought stress conditions, green corn forage can be high in nitrate.