The purpose of silage production is to preserve as many of the forage nutrients as possible for feeding at a later time. High quality forage is necessary for the efficient production of milk and meat.
Corn is the most prevalent crop grown for silage in the United States.
This publication discusses corn silage fermentation, the management required for good fermentation to take place, and the types of preservatives and additives that may aid the fermentation process. Normally, microbial activity will cause forage to ferment until it spoils. When enough of these acids have accumulated, fermentation ceases. Fermentation is a destructive process, resulting in the loss of nutrients in order to preserve the crop. The objective of ensiling, therefore, is to minimize those nutrient losses while reducing the pH until a stable product is formed.