Feeds - metabolisable energy queries

[Chris P]

What's best Silage or Maize?

Also if silage ferments starches producing lactic acid, does this promote acidosis? And how can it have a higher ME value than the original product?

I'm confused !

Chris.

[happyheifer]

Do you mean crushed maize or maize silage?

Silage has already begun the fermentation process - the same process which occurs in the cows rumen. It is therefore more digestable as a result. Starches also ferment to propionic acid which is a precursor to weight gain at the expense of milk fat. The best quality silage will still be about 38% NDF (fibre) which produces acetic acid on fermentation- which is a precursor for your fat test. Wheat is an acidosis risk because it it only about 12% NDF at 12.7 MJME whereas a top quality pasture silage will still be about 38% fibre.