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Myths and facts about maize silage and rumen function
A healthy rumen function is invaluable. If things are not going well in the rumen, a cow cannot perform optimally. A good ration with just enough protein, energy and structure is the basis for a healthy rumen function. Below are some important myths and facts about maize silage and rumen function.
Fact: you can only fill a rumen once
In highly productive dairy cattle, the challenge is to get as much energy as possible into the cow. The fact is that you can only fill a rumen once. The cow is limited by her maximum dry matter intake. It is therefore important that each kg of dry feed of roughage contains as much usable energy as possible.
Myth: high cell wall digestibility makes corn fast
The energy in the cell walls is the safest source of energy for a dairy cow. Because cell walls must first be broken down, the energy is gradually released. A high cell wall digestibility therefore does not increase the risk of rumen acidification.
On the contrary: rumen bacteria can form extra microbial protein from this rumen energy. In combination with good rumination activity, a high cell wall digestibility ensures better feed efficiency and extra milk flotation.
Fact: high cell wall digestibility provides extra energy
Maize for silage consists of 40% kernels and 60% residual plants. The starch-rich grains provide an average of 45% of the energy (VEM) and the residual plant 30%. The amount of VEM that comes from that residual plant depends on the cell wall digestibility. Every 5% Better Digestibility Delivers 30 VEM/kg dry matter extra† Therefore, always choose for silage maize varieties that excel in total kVEM/ha >>
Fact: more corn milks easily
Corn mainly provides glucogenic energy in the ration. During lactation, this is a welcome source of energy to control milk yield and composition.
Also opt for the highest yield of your hectares of silage maize:
- View the recommended maize varieties with the highest kVEM/ha
- Ask your LG roughage specialist for tailor-made advice without obligation
