Silage Calculator
Calculate silage production, dry matter content, storage requirements, and livestock feed needs. Supports corn silage, haylage, sorghum, and small grain silage crops.
Livestock Feeding
Cost Analysis
Silage Results
| Measurement | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Silage (as-fed) | 2,000 tons |
| Dry Matter Content | 35.0% |
| Total Dry Matter Tons | 700 tons DM |
| Storage Shrink Loss | 240 tons (12%) |
| Recoverable Silage (as-fed) | 1,760 tons |
| Storage Volume Needed | 90,909 ft3 (2,574 m3) |
| TDN Content | 68% |
| Daily Feed Needed (100 head) | 1.3 tons/day |
| Feed Needed (180 days) | 225 tons |
| Forage Acres Needed | 11.3 acres |
| Total Production Cost | $90,000 |
| Cost per Dry Matter Ton | $128.57 |
* Storage shrink varies by storage type and management practices. Bunker silos typically lose 10-15%, bags lose 4-8%, and upright silos lose 4-8%. Actual results will vary.
About Silage Calculations
Silage is fermented, high-moisture forage fed to ruminant livestock. This calculator helps producers estimate total silage production, dry matter yield, storage requirements, and how much silage is needed for a given herd size and feeding period.
Dry matter (DM) is the most important measure in silage because it represents the actual nutrient content after water is removed. Corn silage typically contains 30-40% DM (60-70% moisture). Higher DM silage has more nutrients per ton and lower hauling costs.
Storage shrink represents the loss of silage during storage and feedout due to spoilage, fermentation losses, and surface waste. Bunker silos have the highest shrink (10-15%) due to greater surface exposure, while bag and upright silos have lower shrink (4-8%).
Storage density affects how much silage fits in a given storage volume. Bunker silos packed at 44-50 lbs/ft� as-fed (typical for corn silage at 65% moisture) are considered well-packed. Bag silos typically achieve 35-40 lbs/ft�.
Related Calculators
Authoritative References
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many tons of silage per acre of corn?
- Corn silage yields typically range from 15 to 25 tons per acre (as-fed at 65% moisture), depending on hybrid selection, growing conditions, and management. At 35% dry matter, this equates to 5.25 to 8.75 tons of dry matter per acre. Well-managed corn under irrigation can reach 30+ tons per acre.
- What is the difference between silage DM and as-fed tons?
- As-fed tons are the total weight of silage including water. Dry matter (DM) tons are the weight after removing all moisture. For example, 20 tons of corn silage at 35% DM equals 7 tons of dry matter (20 � 0.35). Ration formulation should always be based on dry matter to ensure accurate nutrient delivery.
- How much silage does a cow eat per day?
- A dairy cow typically consumes 20-30 lbs of corn silage (as-fed) per day, depending on body weight, milk production, and ration composition. Beef cattle consume 15-25 lbs per day. In dry matter terms, this is roughly 7-10 lbs DM from silage for dairy cows, with the remainder coming from hay, grain, and supplements.
- What is the best moisture content for silage?
- The ideal moisture content depends on storage type. For bunker silos, 60-68% moisture (32-40% DM) is recommended for good packing and fermentation. For bag silos, 60-65% moisture is ideal. Upright silos can handle slightly drier silage at 55-65% moisture. Wetter silage (above 70%) leads to seepage losses, while drier silage (below 55%) is difficult to pack properly.
- What is silage shrink and how can it be reduced?
- Silage shrink is the loss of dry matter between harvest and feedout, typically 8-15% for bunker silos and 4-8% for bags or upright silos. Shrink results from respiration, fermentation losses, effluent seepage, surface spoilage, and feedout waste. To reduce shrink: harvest at proper moisture, chop at correct length, pack thoroughly (target 44+ lbs/ft� density), seal promptly, use oxygen barrier film, and maintain a clean feedout face.