The present invention is directed to methods for increasing the quality of crop plant silage that are consumed by milk and meat-producing animals. The methods involve the following steps: 1) treating plants with a gibberellin; 2) producing silage from the plants treated according to step 1); and 3) feeding silage produced according to step 2) to milk and/or meat-producing animals. Applicants' methods result in higher quality meat from the meat-producing animals and increased milk from the milk-producing animals.