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This is how you get maximum return from your maize cultivation
Maize for silage is a stable, high-yielding forage crop that provides the necessary glucogenic energy in many Dutch dairy rations. Getting a high feed value yield from your hectares of maize reduces the need for concentrates and thus provides an immediate return. How do you handle that?
Maize in the ration increases energy density and roughage intake and thus reduces the need for concentrates. Maize provides the necessary energy to convert the protein in grass into milk protein. With the following practical tips you will get the highest return.
Tip 1: digestibility makes the difference
The energy of silage maize comes for the most part from the starch. However, the residual plant (cell walls) also provide a lot of energy, 25% to 33% of the total. Here cell wall digestibility plays a key role: the higher this NDF digestibility, the more energy is released from the cell walls. Between maize varieties exist here big differences in, with a variation of 45% to 60% cell wall digestibility.
The gain of a high cell wall digestibility is clearly visible on the pit analysis: it yields up to 75 VEM per kg of dry matter extra! So more milk from every kilogram of roughage. With the same cultivation costs, this increases your yield. View corn varieties with the highest digestibility >>
Tip 2: corn that fits in the ration
The grass/maize ratio in the ration partly determines the maize variety that provides the best feeding results. A grassy ration requires a lot of rumen-available energy. Starchy corn fits well here, with a higher proportion of non-resistant starch. You can recognize these varieties at LG by the Starplus label >>
In a ration richer in maize, a more moderate starch supply is safer. Then choose varieties with a high VEM per kg dry matter, average starch content and high cell wall digestibility such as LG 7005 en LG 7005.
Tip 3: increase your kVEM per hectare
You do not have to purchase any VEM that you obtain and use from your own country. Make maize cultivation a priority and unleash the full potential of the maize variety:
- Sow maize varieties that excel on the Variety List in kVEM yield
- Invest in soil quality and take good care of the cultivation
- Harvest at the right time and prevent silage losses
To support livestock farmers in their maize cultivation, LG is launching the new smart-farming platform Agrility before the 2022 season. Growers receive frequent email updates on crop growth, yield and ripening. So you have the maize cultivation under control at all times! Read more about Agrility here.
How Agrilite works:
Tip 4: protect your corn against pests
Predators such as birds and soil insects can severely thin the plant population, resulting in a lower yield. Now that chemical seed treatments are no longer available, LG Starcover Force offers the widest range of protection. If there is bird damage, you will receive with the Free LG Corn Service maize seed for over- or additional sowing fully reimbursed.
