# Reading the silage analysis

A silage analysis tells you what your forage is worth. But what do all those values mean? These are the most important ones.


## Dry matter

The dry matter content tells you how much of the silage is actual feed and how much is water.

The other values are usually given per kilo of dry matter on the result. This lets you compare silages with each other.


## Energy: VEM

VEM stands for feed unit milk. It is the energy value of the feed for dairy cattle.

The higher the VEM, the more energy a cow gets from the feed.


## Protein: crude protein, DVE and OEB

Crude protein is the total amount of protein in the feed. DVE is the intestinally digestible protein: the protein the cow can absorb in the intestine.

The OEB tells you whether there is a surplus or a shortage of protein in the rumen relative to the energy. A positive OEB means a protein surplus in the rumen.


## Sugar and structure

Sugar makes the silage palatable and helps with preservation.

The structure says something about how well the feed keeps the rumen working. If the structure is too low, the rumen works less well.


## What do you do with the result?

With the values of your own silage, you can fine-tune the ration. Target values differ per farm and per animal group.

That is why you should discuss the result with your feed adviser.

## Further reading

- [Feed sample and silage analysis](https://monsternemer.nl/en/services/feed-sample/): What is your silage worth? With a feed sample you know how much energy and protein your roughage contains, so you can adjust the ration to it.
- [Glossary](https://monsternemer.nl/en/knowledge/glossary/): From Nmin to VEM: the words you come across on a result, briefly explained.
- [Which sample when](https://monsternemer.nl/en/knowledge/annual-planning/): An overview by season.

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Source: https://monsternemer.nl/en/knowledge/reading-silage-analysis/