Report and comments by James I. Sprague Ph.D. Livestock Nutritionist

Flexible Storage
Providing flexible storage of high moisture grains is one of the advantages of the "Ag-Bag" system, according to Kevin James, Ag-Bag International associate at Garden City, Kansas. Early harvested high moisture corn is well excepted as a superior grain storage and processing method for growing and finishing cattle. The "Ag-Bag" storage system is an interesting alternative method compared to tower silos, oxygen limited structure like a Harvestor, and bunker or pit silos.

James says a cattle feeder can have one bag or as many as needed. The system's flexibility allows it to be used for wheat, legume, corn or sorghum silages.

High Moisture Corn or High Moisture Ear Corn in an Ag-Bag
The use of Ag-Bags for storing high moisture ear corn is one of the interesting uses of their machine, according to Mr. James. Although high moisture shelled corn is the primarily used by most feeders, ensiled high moisture ear corn is a valuable alternative. It not only provides the high energy grain but also the cob as the roughage factor.

The harvesting and processing of high moisture ear corn has changed with the development of the forage harvester with a kernel processor. This has speeded up the harvest of high moisture ear corn. This type of equipment is now used by the Christensen Brothers Incorporated farm at Weldona, Colorado. According to Larry Christensen the machine "harvests" more shucks and pieces of stalk than their corn pickers, resulting in a lower energy content of their rations. When they used corn pickers or kernel processors on combines, they needed to grind the ear corn to reduce the particle size of the grain and cobs before it was stored in their bunker silos. The Christensen's have been using ear corn continuously since 1959. Their father, E. C. Christensen, pioneered the harvesting and feeding of high moisture ear corn in their area of Colorado.

Management of Ag-Bags is Important
Putting high moisture corn in silage bags is management intensive, just as it is to storing high moisture corn in a tower or bunker silo. Rapid filling is still important, however down time from rain or machinery problems can be easily overcome by just closing the bag. Keeping stray livestock and rodents away from the bags is needed to prevent spoilage.

One of the distinct advantage of the silage bag system is the superior storage and prevention of losses from the top and sides compared to many bunker silos.

Early Harvested HM Milo
Storing early harvested milo in a Ag-Bag may be possible. Two clients of ours have used early harvested and finely rolled milo for finishing cattle. They store the milo in bunkers covered by plastic. The "Ag-Bag" system may be an ideal way for some feeders to store this commodity.

Reconstituted Whole Milo
In this case water is added to milo to bring the moisture up to 35 percent moisture and then ensiled in a oxygen limited structure (Harvestor) for three weeks. The milo is crushed with heavy rolls as it is removed from the silo. The quality control of this form of milo processing was worked out by Hale and Prouty at the University of Arizona, but has not been used to any extent by the cattle feeding industry. The "Ag-Bag" system may be an ideal way to make this storage and processing method work for cattle feeders.©

Questions on this or any article by Dr. Sprague can be directed to him at 625 Grandview Avenue, Newton, Kansas, 67114. Or call him at (316) 283-8692.