Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional sciences for Pioneer Hi-Bred, provides a brief refresher on VFA's. Citing Pioneer research, he offers observations on the challenges in conducting accurate testing, due largely to variability, to help nutritionists and producers determine reasonable expectations for profiling.

Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional sciences for Pioneer Hi-Bred, discusses milk butterfat depression and the shifting theories on what creates this problem.

Among silage corn issues, vitreousness generates more noise than it deserves, says Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional sciences for Pioneer Hi-Bred. This is the hard starch on the outside of the corn kernel that develops late in maturity, contributing to high test weight. Bill says research based solely on dry corn at 15.5% moisture is not relevant to high-moisture and silage corn. From processing to digestibility, he cites comprehensive Pioneer research involving multiple hybrids and feeding methods to put vitreousness in perspective.

At what point can inaccuracies plague the testing of corn silage? The greater potential for problems is not in the laboratory, but instead in the sampling, according to Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional sciences for Pioneer Hi-Bred.

Smooth transition to a new feed crop starts with analysis per back-to-basics guidelines. For example, separate the evaluations between the grass portion of your corn and the high- moisture grain. Open your mind, though, to new strategies, advises Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional sciences for Pioneer Hi-Bred.

While harvesting snaplage is not a new practice, it is becoming more appealing, says Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional services for Pioneer Hi-Bred.

Experts agree on the basics for believability in corn silage plot data. Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional services for Pioneer Hi-Bred, details credibility thresholds for confidence in that data.

Improved fiber digestibility can be a major benefit of chopping corn silage higher, according to Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional sciences for Pioneer Hi-Bred.

An up-front dialogue between the nutritionist and custom cutter can pay dividends, says Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional sciences for Pioneer Hi-Bred.

Should the cost of purchasing corn silage be driven by quantity or quality? Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional sciences for Pioneer Hi-Bred, believes in retiring the 30-year-old rule of thumb, the Board of Trade price for corn times seven or eight..