The decision to make hay or silage is an economic and management question. As a general rule, crops harvested as silage will have 10 to 25 percent greater feed value than the same crops cut as hay. Forage field and feeding losses are higher with hay, while storage losses often are greater with silage. Silage making generally is more expensive, and the crop has much less marketability than hay; however, harvesting as silage reduces weather risks. The class of livestock being fed is also important. Growing calves can utilize the extra feed value in silage for growth compared to mature animals such as beef cows fed a maintenance diet.

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