Does the stage of maturity effect silage moisture content?
For cereal silage the moisture content should be 60 to 65 % when it is delivered to the pit. This moisture level will permit both good packing and silage fermentation. In cereal crops, dry down begins shortly after heading and accelerates with kernel development. For both barley and oats the moisture content of the standing crop can reach 65% by the late milk to early dough stage. Harvesting at earlier stages such as the milk or early dough will help in avoiding the problem of the silage becoming too dry for proper packing and ensiling. Figure 1. Per cent of total yield as crop matures, for oats, barley and triticale.
