How much corn silage does a cow eat per day?

Short answer: as a general reference, an adult cow eats 25 to 40 kg of fresh corn silage per day, depending on its weight, whether it is milking or fattening, and what other feed it receives. A 35 kg bag covers roughly one day of feeding for one adult cow when silage is the base of the diet, or 2 to 3 days when used to supplement pasture.

What intake depends on

• Body weight. A practical rule is that cattle eat 2.5–3 % of their live weight in dry matter per day. Corn silage is about 30–35 % dry matter, so a 450 kg cow needs 12–13 kg of dry matter, i.e. 35–40 kg of fresh silage if it is the only feed.
• Production stage. Milking cows and fattening bulls eat more than maintenance animals or dry cows.
• Available pasture. In the rainy season, with good grass, silage works as a supplement (10–15 kg/day). In the dry season, when pasture is scarce, it becomes the base of the diet.
• Supplements. If concentrate, molasses or hay are fed, the silage ration goes down.

How many bags do I need

Example: for 10 cows in the dry season for one month, plan on 35 kg × 10 × 30 = 10,500 kg, i.e. 300 bags of 35 kg.

How to feed it

1. Start with small rations for 5–7 days so the rumen adapts.
2. Feed in clean troughs, twice a day, and remove leftovers.
3. Provide clean water and mineral salt free choice.
4. Open only the bags you will use that day: once opened, silage starts heating up and losing quality.

Our silage

At Agrícola LG Calderón we produce corn silage in the Nicoya Peninsula and sell it in 35 kg bags at CRC 100 per kg (CRC 3,500 per bag), with immediate delivery. Tell us how many animals you have and their stage and we will help you calculate the quantity.

The figures in this guide are general management references; for a precise ration consult your veterinarian or animal nutritionist.