More milk from your own feed with feed maize varieties

In its breeding program, KWS Benelux focuses on maize that performs optimally under conditions as we know them in the Benelux. The pillars that are central to this are: grain early maturity, grain yield, feed value, silage maize yield and healthy agricultural properties. For example, the maize is characterized by its high feed value per kg/DM and an excellent yield per hectare, which results in the highest possible balance. In practice, this means higher production per cow and per hectare.

To achieve maximum yield and optimum feed value, an early maturing cob is essential. The growing season of 2024, which is behind us, has once again shown how ultra-early to very early maize varieties can make the difference between sufficient and insufficient maturity at harvest.

It is the maturity of the grains in the cob that determines the harvest moment in modern varieties; to a lesser extent this is influenced by the residual plant. Pay close attention, because if a maize variety appears to be early on paper according to the dry matter percentage of the total plant, this does not necessarily mean that it is also early in the grain. A low residual plant percentage and/or quickly dying residual plant clearly has an influence. If you do not take this into account when choosing your variety, this may mean that you choose a maize variety for which the ideal harvest moment is later than you had assumed before sowing.

Besides the fact that a variety with a timely ripening in the cob can be harvested earlier, this also means that you can sow the catch crop on time. This way the catch crop can do what it is intended for: capture nitrogen. This way you perfectly meet the requirements set by the 7^e Nitrate Directive action program.

Higher grain yield = high starch yield
Starch mainly provides glucogenic energy and has a strong milk-producing effect in dairy cattle. The economic utility of starch is undisputed and results in savings on feed costs on the farm. A breed with a higher grain yield provides a higher starch yield. At least, if sufficient grain maturity is achieved. An apparently large cob does not always say everything about the starch yield or concentration. The differences that are demonstrated in tests are also seen as such in practice. On the other hand, contrary to what is often claimed, the energetic contribution of cell walls is limited. Certainly when the ration only consists partly of maize and the actual length of stay in the cow is taken into account. The value of starch becomes even greater when, for example, silage maize is chopped higher, or when MKS is harvested.

Boost corn
The six best premium maize varieties have been awarded the KWS predicate 'Boost corn' received. The Boost maize varieties are characterized by a higher feed value yield than other, standard maize varieties. The Boost variety range is divided into EnergyBoost and SiloBoost maize.

Highest nutritional value: EnergyBoost maize
EnergyBoost maize has a higher energy concentration and the highest feed value per kg/ds. This makes EnergyBoost maize ideal for farmers looking for maize with a high energy concentration, because they have a large share of grass in the ration.

Four EnergyBoost varieties are available in the various FAO classes: KWS Nevo (ultra early - FAO 180), KWS Allinno (very early - FAO 210), KWS Emporio (early - FAO 215) and KWS Arturello (mid-early - FAO 240).

The results of trials by the official trial field agencies in the Netherlands and Belgium can be viewed below. The more to the right in the graph, the earlier the feed corn variety is in the grain. The more to the top in the graph, the higher the feed value yield (= grain yield) of the feed corn variety.

• CSAR Recommended Varieties List 2025 – grain maize
• ILVO Descriptive Variety List 2025 – Grain maize

Highest dry matter yield: SiloBoost maize
SiloBoost maize has the highest dry matter yield. This makes SiloBoost maize ideal for farmers who are looking for maize with a high dry matter yield, because they have a large share of maize in their ration, for example. Two SiloBoost varieties are available in the various FAO classes: KWS Curacao (very early - FAO 210) and Agrolupo (mid-early - FAO 240). KWS Curacao scores above average on dry matter yield and this firm, very early quality maize has a very good feed value yield from grain and plant. The Agrolupo variety is still under research, but shows promising results in the form of a high dry matter yield, a high feed value yield and very good agricultural properties.

The results of trials by the official trial field agencies in the Netherlands and Belgium can be viewed below. The more to the right in the graph, the earlier the feed corn variety is in the total plant. The more to the top in the graph, the higher the dry matter yield of the total plant is of the feed corn variety.

• CSAR Recommended Varieties List 2025 - Silage corn (very early - early)
• ILVO Recommended Varieties List 2025 – silage maize

agricultural properties
Good agricultural properties are becoming increasingly important. Selection by KWS employees for insensitivity to (fungal) diseases is an important part of the breeding program. Think in particular of leaf fungi (leaf spot disease), smut, head smut and the various fusarium variants. For several years now, the KWS hybrids that are sold on the market belong to the so-called low-input varieties. This means that an equal or even higher yield is achieved with less water and nutrients. In addition, given the increasingly extreme weather conditions during the growing season, a lot of energy and money is invested in selection for sturdiness.

Do you have any questions about cultivation and do you want to achieve an even higher balance per cow and per hectare with maize? Then contact your KWS advisor or corn seed supplier.