Silopak News
Corn vs Maize: What’s the Difference and Which Term to Use
Cereal crops belong to the grass family Gramineae and are grown for their edible grain. Botanically that grain is a caryopsis, made up of endosperm, germ, and bran. Cereals carry more energy per hectare than most other crops, which is why they dominate global...
Cereal Crops Types and Nutritional Benefits As Animal Feeds
Cereal crops belong to the grass family Gramineae and are grown for their edible grain. Botanically that grain is a caryopsis, made up of endosperm, germ, and bran. Cereals carry more energy per hectare than most other crops, which is why they dominate global...
Healthy Cattle Feed: Grain, Hay, Pasture & Concentrates Compared
Choosing cattle feed is not rocket science, but it is a craft, and the assumption that cattle will eat whatever is put in front of them is where a lot of expensive mistakes begin. Throwing some leaves here and some grass there does not add up to a ration. Cattle have...
Best Pasture for Cows: Grass Species, Legumes & Grazing Safety
Cattle are grazers, and the quality of what they graze determines their health, their productivity, and ultimately what the farm earns. Choosing the best pasture for cows is therefore one of the more consequential decisions a livestock operation makes, and it is worth...
Baling Explained: Bale Types, History & Why Baling Doesn’t Dry Hay
Baling is the process of compacting cut crop material into a compressed, bound bale. The crop is cut and raked beforehand, then gathered and compressed into a form that can be handled, stacked, stored, and transported far more easily than loose material. Silage, hay,...
Oat Straw for Horses: Feeding Safely, Colic Risk & Nitrate Warning
Oat straw has a real place in horse feeding, but it is widely misunderstood, and some of the advice circulating about it is not just wrong but potentially dangerous. This guide covers what oat straw actually is, how to feed it to horses safely, and how to bale and...
Cotton Fiber Bales and Stalks: Wrapping, Baling & Industrial Uses
Cotton is one of the world's most valuable crops, and almost every part of it has a use. The fiber becomes fabric: sailcloth, voile, velvet, and countless everyday products from towels and tablecloths to bandages, tea bags, and hospital linens. Cotton fabric holds up...
Corn Fermentation: Turning Corn Stover into Livestock Feed
Corn is a staple energy source for livestock. It stores well, is produced at scale, combines easily with other ingredients, and yellow varieties supply useful carotene. Its main weakness is protein, at only around 8 to 9% crude protein, which is why corn-based rations...
Cattle Feed, Forage Crops, Straw, Whole Crop Cereals
As winter approaches, farmers take stock of their feed reserves. When the numbers do not add up, the search begins for alternative cattle feed that can bridge the gap without compromising herd health or performance. The good news is that several options work well. The...