The Influence of Chop Length on Compactability, Ensiling and Undesirable Temperature in Maize Silage

Abstract

Quality losses in maize preservation due to undesirable rises in tempera- ture still cause considerable problems in the practice of dairy cattle feed- ing. These problems must be assumed to grow still more severe in the fu- ture. The aim of the present study has been to determine the quantitative interrelations between maize breed, chop length, and the degree of me- chanical processing. This article presents the experimental design, the methods and the first results of extensive research conducted in the con- text of a doctoral dissertation.