A maize silage buffer makes sense

While most dairy farmers eagerly await the harvest of their next maize silage crop so they can start feeding it, a growing number are carrying over a stack from the previous season.

Having a stack of maize silage on hand makes a lot of sense. It allows farmers to grow longer maturity, higher-yielding hybrids ensuring cows aren’t underfed while waiting for the next crop. And silage stored for three to five months usually has a higher feed value than a newly ensiled crop.

Longer maturity (higher Comparative Relative Maturity (CRM) hybrids take longer to reach harvest maturity but generally produce higher drymatter yields than shorter maturity hybrids, so farmers usually maximise yield and minimise the cost per kilogram of drymatter by planting longer maturity maize silage hybrids. Just ensure the crop is harvested early enough to ensure a good establishment of your winter pasture or crop.

Carrying a buffer of maize silage is also excellent insurance allowing farmers to feed cows well over the summer and into the autumn, regardless of how well pastures are growing. They milk well on it, especially when fed with a protein source such as leafy pasture, a leafy brassica crop or a higher protein inshed blend. Even when the cost of holding it in the stack for over 12 months is considered, home-grown maize silage is a cheaper option than many bought-in supplements. This is especially true if there is a widespread feed shortage which inflates the spot market prices for supplements. Maize silage is a proven cow conditioner, with its energy being used 50% more efficiently for condition score gain than the energy in autumn pasture.

Carried-over maize silage also delivers feed value gains

Research shows that ensiling time improves maize starch digestibility and the feed value of maize silage. Freshly ensiled maize silage has an excellent feed value, but the data shows maize that’s been in the stack for several months is even better.

As fermentation begins, silage bacteria proteases degrade zein proteins surrounding starch granules within the maize grain. The longer maize is ensiled (up to about 6 months), the greater the extent of zein protein degradation and the more accessible the starch is to rumen microorganisms. This results in improved starch digestion, and less starch being lost in the faeces.

Compared to newly harvested maize silage, crops ensiled for three to five months increase starch digestibility by 10-15 percentage units. So, farmers feeding older silage can expect to see less maize starch in the faeces and more milk in the vat!

If you’re thinking about stacking maize silage for the long term, consider using one of our quality silage inoculants such as Pioneer® brand 11C33RR, which reduces heating, and limits feed-out losses. Be sure to compact the silage well, seal it with a high-quality cover, place rat bait around the stack, and regularly check for any holes.

If you’re already benefitting from growing maize for silage, these are key points to keep in mind. If you’re new to maize silage or want to learn more about the benefits, reach out to your local Pioneer representative.