In many cases this season maize cobs have matured well in advance of the stem and leaves, producing a much greener plant at harvest and generally 'wetter' silages. As a result, silage analysis results will have to be considered more carefully than normal in order to gain the full nutritional benefits from the crop.
"This year's weather patterns have given maize crops a more regular supply of moisture than in many recent seasons," explains KW Alternative Feeds' Ian Pickles. "So the maturity of the cob and the rest of the plant haven't been as closely linked, and achieving a target silage dry matter of 30% won't have been possible in many cases because of the increased green leaf area at harvest.
"The end result is likely to be been higher than normal lactic acid levels in a lot of the maize silage produced this season, which needs to be countered by feeding additional digestible fibre, such as sugar beet feed or pressed pulp, and possibly by adding a yeast."
Mr Pickles' advice is to get all silages analysed, and to pay particular attention if more than one variety is grown. Where two varieties with different characteristics have been clamped together, for example, it may be worth trying to get samples from both for analysis. And if switching clamps during the winter, make sure the ration is adjusted if necessary.
"Maize offers tremendous potential in terms of milk production, and having a mature cob at harvest provides the starch needed to drive rumen fermentation. After summers like the one we have just experienced, it's important to remember that the rest of the ration may need to be changed to match the quality of the silage in the pit," he concludes.
