Contact:
James.Holden@Pioneer.com
0408 669 026

28-Feb-07

Drought places pressure on feeding maize silage

Maize silage can be utilised earlier by using Pioneer® inoculant 1132 at harvest.

The continued drought across Australia’s dairy regions has placed considerable pressure on growers’ feed reserves with many eagerly waiting for silage from summer crops.

Historically, silage from crops such as maize has needed to be left in the pit for at least three weeks before feeding out to ensure the forage has sufficient time to ferment and reach terminal pH.

Maize will produce valuable fodder over the coming weeks and months but many growers who are desperate for feed are considering feeding silage within days of putting it in the pit.

An early opening of the silage pit can be achieved with the use of Pioneer® inoculant 1132 to speed up the fermentation process.

1132 inoculant is applied at harvest and has been proven to reduce fermentation time and allow an earlier feed-out.

1132 is the only maize-specific silage inoculant in Australia and has been proven to improve the speed and efficiency of fermentation.

In other drought years 1132-treated silage has been successfully ensiled and fed out after only five to seven days in the pit. In some cases terminal pH has been achieved after just 48 hours.

Research by the NSW DPI demonstrated higher intake and production from animals fed with maize silage treated with 1132.

Green-chopped maize is also being considered by many growers this season. This can be a useful drought management tool but should only be considered as a last resort.

Green chopping usually results in harvesting the maize crop before the optimum 30 to 35 percent dry matter stage.

The feed must be used very quickly because when left in a pile exposed to air it will heat and deteriorate. Green-chopped maize has similar quality and feed value to maize silage but if cut early ME (metabolisable energy) may be lower.

Yield of green-chopped maize will also be significantly lower than the same crop left for silage and so the cost per tonne of harvested fodder will be higher.

ENDS