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Corn starch increases milk and meat production
There is always a lot written about corn. Rightly so. Corn is the second largest crop after grass. After a cautious introduction by the 'Maize kernel Beckum' in the 60s and 70s, things went fast in the decades that followed.
Maize (starch) fits well next to grass (protein) in modern cattle rations. Corn can withstand drought better and, with about 350 liters, needs about half as much water per kilogram of dry matter production as grass. In addition, on the basis of the official Lists of Varieties, the dry matter yield per hectare for maize is easily 6 to 8 tons higher compared to grass. It is also a relatively simple and labour-intensive cultivation, and the nutrient requirement per kilogram of dry matter production is lower, which makes the footprint much more favorable. Due to a timely harvest of the modern maize varieties, the success rate of the catch crop, such as Fast Spring Rye, is much greater. Residual nitrogen is effectively captured. So there is no reason to stop growing corn!
Breeding plays a major role at KWS
Thanks to intensive breeding, maize varieties are getting better and earlier. Formerly in the sense that by selection for precociousness of the grain in particular, the certainty of harvesting a ripe crop is increasing even more. And better because compared to maize varieties that were newly introduced to the market fifteen years ago, the new varieties achieve 10 to 15% higher yields. The countries of the Benelux have the great advantage that they are centrally located in North-West Europe, a region with a large area of maize. It is therefore worthwhile to invest a lot of energy in genetic progress through breeding. That is why KWS invests so much in maize variety research in the Netherlands and Belgium, because the cultivation of these varieties also takes place in practice there!
Choose maize with early maturing cobs and a higher nutritional value
Precisely for the reasons described above, but also to strive for the highest possible balance, it is very important to choose maize with cobs that mature on time in combination with the highest possible grain yield. Maize that ripens on time can really be harvested on time. In order to realize the maximum yield and optimum nutritional value, a timely ripe or early maturing cob is necessary. Certainly in a growing season like 2021, it has once again become apparent how important this is and makes the difference between sufficient ripeness at harvest and not. The ripeness of the kernels in the cob determines the harvest moment in modern varieties and to a lesser extent the residual plant. Modern maize varieties are varieties that, after breeding and selection, have been assessed by KWS for early ripeness of the grain. This is then tested by independent bodies and experienced in practice. If a maize variety appears to be early according to the dry matter percentage of the total plant on paper, this does not necessarily mean that it is also early in the grain. A disappointing nutritional value with what turned out to be a too early harvest of such maize varieties is often the result.
KWS has been the number 1 in grain yield and feed value for years
Maize varieties that have proven themselves in trials and in practice are briefly described below:
Ultra early – very early
- Exelon: ultra early (FAO 170), the best yield and nutritional value in the ultra early segment.
- Papageno: very early (FAO 200), thanks to the very good yield and quality, very suitable for very early silage maize and MKS.
early
- Megusto: early (FAO 220), thanks to the high grain yield, very popular as early grain maize and certainly as energy-rich silage maize.
- Benedictio: early (FAO 220), yet massive. Agricultural super strong!
- Genialis: early (FAO 230), very solid and reliable. Thanks to the excellent drought resistance, also very suitable for cultivation on dry sandy soils!
- Johaninio: early (FAO 230), newly recommended on the Variety List, energy-rich silage maize and MKS combined with a top harvest security.
mid-early
- Corazon: mid-early (FAO 235), top yield as energy-rich silage maize, MKS, CCM and grain maize.
- Haiko: mid-early (FAO 240), agriculturally very strong, massive and a top silo maize yield.
- Camillo: mid-early (FAO 250), unique 100% Dent genetics. Very high yield in grain and therefore very good in nutritional value, very firm, very healthy until harvest and therefore very harvest-secure!
Compared to many other maize varieties, these quickly achieve a €200 to €250 additional yield per hectare. Stories that these varieties are only suitable as grain maize can certainly go to the realm of fables. Their prominent position on the various silage maize varieties lists in terms of nutritional value (VEM/kg ds and starch) show just the opposite. For example, a maize crop such as GENIALIS with the aim of threshing it for the grain is the same GENIALIS that is harvested on another plot as silage maize. There are those who lead you to believe otherwise, but it is so obvious!
When harvested at the right time, the grain yield is dominant in the silo maize trials, which is reflected in high dry matter and feed value yields. In addition, the level of the VEM and the starch index is also a good indicator of the quality of the variety in question.
Harvest security very important
When a maize variety is harvested at the right time of grain ripeness (= hard dough ready until fully ripe), a stay green variety has a clear advantage due to the healthy residual plant. A stay green and harvest-reliable variety is firm, has good leaf spot tolerance and good bubbling, headburn and Rhizoctonia resistance. Pay attention to this when choosing maize varieties!
We like to help you
If you would like more information about KWS, the cultivation of maize and about KWS maize varieties, please contact your regional KWS adviser. Look for this www.kwsbenelux.com† They are happy to talk to you.
