Across the industry, more dairies are asking the same question: If we move away from brown-midrib (BMR) corn silage, what happens to cow performance and the bottom line?

When dairy farmers evaluate their forage program, the conversation often starts with yield and moisture — but it should always come back to one core question: How much of the starch in this corn silage is actually available to the cow?

When most people think about forage quality, their minds immediately go to milk production — higher starch, better digestibility, more energy, more milk. But the impact of forage quality extends far beyond the parlor. It affects the health, longevity, and performance of every cow in the herd.

When it comes to evaluating the success of a silage program, one of the most common mistakes is focusing solely on cost per acre.