Cereal grains, such as corn and barley, are included as an energy source in rations for lactating dairy cows. Cereal grains contain high concentrations of starch, a component that is almost completely and uniformly digested in the gastrointestinal tract when processed adequately.

Cover crops are planted to increase health and fertility of soils and to benefit the surrounding environment. In systems producing either beef or dairy cattle, cover crops are also grazed or harvested for feeding.

Last March, Dr. Wayne Coblentz, a forage scientist from the USDA Dairy Forage Research Center, updated us about baleage technology during the Virginia Tech 2016 Area Dairy Conference. Following are some of the main take-home massages from Coblentz: