Highly Digestible Silage HDS hybrids have not only been gaining in popularity and use, but they have also been gaining in traits and digestibility trials. In a three year study comparing HDS hybrids to traditional dual purpose hybrids, HDS hybrids have shown signifi cantly higher NDF digestibility compared to dual purpose grain hybrids tested from 24 to 36 hours. Samples were ground to a 6 mm consistency to resemble the rumen mat. This is 6 times courser than samples used for testing in normal silage analysis labs, making it a more representative test. Finely ground samples allow the testing equipment or rumen microbes to determine the total amount of nutrients in the sample, but not the digestibility of the starch or starch fi ber. Finely ground forage samples can indicate the test’s digestibility, not that of the cows! High yields of highly digestible feed (with traits) will allow cattle producers to increase the amount of corn silage in the ration to combat the high cost of feed corn without loss of production. HDS hybrids may be the best solution for cattle producers to maintain or lower feed costs.

For more information please download the HDS pamphlet

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