15 Frequently Asked Questions About Earlage & Earlage Adapters

Earlage is a high-energy feed, harvested by taking the cob, grain, and some leaves, that provides more feed per acre as compared to grain alone.

• Earlage has higher starch content than silage, making it a higher-energy feed.
• Earlage can lower feed costs, eliminating the need to purchase grain.
• Earlage extends the harvest window, giving you more flexibility and eliminating drying costs.
• Earlage improves rumen function and reduces digestive issues.

Yes, it is a high-energy and high-starch feed that comes from the roughage of corn cobs. It is a cost-effective option for superior weight-gain efficiency because it is nutrient-dense and more digestible than dry grain.

Yes, when compared to corn silage, it is higher in energy and provides more fiber. It also supports milk production and body condition in the early lactation stage.

Earlage should be harvested at around 35%-40% moisture. If it is too wet, yields will be reduced, and losses will be higher. If it is too dry, it will not pack well and could lead to spoilage.

The biggest difference between earlage and corn silage is which parts of the corn plant are harvested. Earlage is primarily the corn grain, cob, and some husk or shank material, containing more grain and giving you a higher-energy feed. Silage is the whole corn plant, including the stalk, leaves, ears, husks, and grain. This gives you a higher-fiber feed that contains more roughage.

Earlage is typically harvested later than corn silage, giving you a longer harvest window.

Earlage and snaplage are both high-moisture corn feeds and are commonly used interchangeably; however, the main difference is how much of the plant material is harvested. Earlage primarily contains the corn grain, cob, and some husk, while snaplage contains the grain, cob, husk, and shank, providing more fiber and roughage.

An earlage adapter connects a standard corn header to a self-propelled forage harvester. This allows farmers to harvest just the corn ears, husks, and cobs, creating a high-energy livestock feed for ruminants.

Kooima Ag makes earlage adapters for Claas®, John Deere®, New Holland®, and Krone® forage harvesters.

Our earlage adapters are compatible with:

• John Deere® headers
• New Holland® and Case IH® 3000 series headers
• New Holland® & Case IH® 2608, 2612, and 4000 series headers
• Lexion® headers
• Harvestec® and Cressoni Headers
• Geringhoff® headers
  • These headers require conversion kits.

The Domai 12-Row Folding Corn Head is compatible with any forage harvester with a Kooima earlage adapter.

Yes, when leaving the adapter on the corn head, pick up the adapter/corn head and hook up the PTOs.

On average, customers can harvest earlage at 6 to 7 miles per hour when utilizing an earlage adapter.

Installation is as simple as any other implement.

• Use the compatible kit to block up the feed rolls, optimizing performance during operation.
• It is highly recommended to use bottom earlage pans to make the feed roll chamber like a tunnel, ensuring smooth and consistent crop flow.
• You will need to remove the quick coupler from the forage harvester and use a kit to drive the earlage adapter, providing a more efficient feeding angle of the corn head.

Many customers have an earlage adapter for 10+ years. Typically, they are replaced when a customer trades brands or upgrades their forage harvester.

• Improved throat design for faster, smoother feeding
• Force-feeds ear corn directly into feed rolls for consistent processing
• Floating top roll adapts to crop volume for improved throughput
• Patented design focused on performance and efficiency in earlage harvesting