Proceeding of Veterinary and Animal Science Days 2017, 6th- 8th June, Milan, Italy 
 

HAF © 2013 

Vol. IV, No. 1s   ISSN: 2283-3927 

   

 

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Keywords 

Microwave sensor, Dry matter, 

Corn silage, Dairy cows 

 

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR 

Vera Perricone 

vera.perricone@unimi.it 

 

JOURNAL HOME PAGE 

riviste.unimi.it/index.php/haf 

Abstract 

Dry matter (DM) intake in dairy cow is a central point to meet nutritional requirements and optimal 

performance, reducing the incidence of metabolic diseases (Ingvartsen, 2006). DM content of some 

forages, such as silages, can undergo huge variations during storing, affecting the total daily DM 

consumed. Reference laboratory method for DM assessment is time-consuming and cannot be 

applied to daily changes in diet composition. Currently, new promising real-time technologies are 

available to monitor the DM content of feeds (Nelson and Trabelsi, 2004). The aim of the study was 

to test and calibrate a portable microwave sensor (MS) for DM content in corn silage samples. Twenty-

two samples were collected from the whole front of a corn silage trench, including the top and near 

the side walls, in order to collect as much as DM content variability as possible within the samples. MS 

readings were performed with 3 different methods for each samples: 1) directly on the silage front, 2) 

with the MS over the collected sample and 3) with MS placed under the sample. After the first MS 

reading, a correspondent silage sample was obtained by a silage corer for readings 2 and 3 and for the 

laboratory DM content assessment by drying in a 60°C forced air-oven to a constant weight. A linear 

regression analysis was performed (JMP, SAS Institute, Cary, NC, 2015) on data obtained from a plot 

of MS readings against DM content. Results evidence as the best MS reading method is represented 

by the probe burdening on the sample (R2=0.75) with respect to the other methods. The obtained 

results outlined as, with a correct reading method, MS could be valuable tool to determine DM 

content of corn silage directly at farm level. 

 

References 

Ingvartsen, K. L., 2006. Feeding- and management-related diseases in the transition cow Physiological 
adaptations around calving and strategies to reduce feeding-related diseases. Animal Feed Science and 
Technology. 126, 175–213. 

Nelson, S.O. and Trabelsi, S., 2004. Principles for microwave moisture and density measurement in grain and 
seed. Journal of Microwave Power & Electromagnetic Energy. 39(2), 107-117. 

Real-time dry matter content of corn  

silage by a microwave sensor 

Vera Perricone1*, Alessandro Agazzi1, Anna Costa1,  

Massimo Lazzari1, Giovanni Savoini1, Aldo Calcante2,  

Francesco M. Tangorra1 

 

1University of Milan, Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, Italy 

2University of Milan, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - Production, 
Landscape, Agroenergy, Italy 

 

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