10 key benefits of maize silage

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Maize silage - the supplement of choice

While pasture continues to be the basis of the diet for most herds, many New Zealand farmers have recognised the production, reproduction and animal health benefits of strategically adding supplementary feeds.
For many farmers, Pioneer brand maize silage is the supplement of choice because it allows them to create a simple, profitable and sustainable dairy farm system which maximises the amount of pasture harvested per hectare.

References
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Deane, T. 1999. The profitable use of supplementary feeds in pasture based systems. Proceedings of the Ruakura Farmers Conference 51:64-77. Hedley, P.; Kolver, E.; Glassey, C.; Thorrold, B.; van Bysterveldt, A.; Roche, J.; Macdonald, K. 2006. Achieving farm performance from a range of farm systems. Proceedings of the 4th Dairy3 Conference 4:147. Densley, R. J.; Austin G. M.; Williams, I. D.; Tsimba, R.; Edmeades, G. O. 2006. Maize silage and winter crop options to maximise drymatter and energy for NZ dairy systems. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association 68:193-197. Ridsdale, S. 2007. Are you getting the best out of your run-off? Proceedings of the 5th Dairy3 Conference 5: 177. FAR 2008. Ledgard, S. 2006. Nitrogen management why is it important and what can we do about it? Proceedings of the 2006 Dairy3 Conference 4: 23-31. Neal, J.S., Greenwood, K.L., de Ruiter, J.M., and Martin, R.J. 2007 Water use efficiency, productivity and profitability how do forages compare? p. 240-255. In: Proc. Australasian Dairy Science Symposium.

This booklet outlines the 10 key benefits of feeding maize silage.

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Abbreviations that appear in this publication: c/kgDM cents per kilogram of drymatter CS - condition score EFS Economic Farm Surplus gMS/kgDM grams of milksolids per kilogram of drymatter ha - hectare kgDM kilograms of drymatter kgDM/ha.mm kilogram of drymatter per hectare millimetre kgMS kilograms of milksolids N - nitrogen tDM/ha/year tonnes of drymatter per hectare per year WUE water use efficiency

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1 Maize silage is proven

There has been more worldwide research into growing, harvesting, storing and feeding maize for silage than there has been for any other crop or supplement. Local research (conducted at both the Waimate West Demonstration Farm in Taranaki and the Resource Efficient Dairying (RED) Trial in the Waikato) has helped farmers understand the principles behind the successful integration of maize silage into New Zealand pasture-based dairy farm systems. As the following data shows, the Waimate West Trial, feeding maize silage in the autumn to keep the herd milking (rather than dry off) gave an exceptional milksolids response of 179 gMS/kgDM maize silage fed. Table 1: Waimate West Demonstration Trial: Productivity and financial outcomes for the 1997-98 season1.
Control Stocking rate (cows/ha) Maize silage (kgDM/cow) Milksolids per cow (kgMS/cow) Milksolids per hectare (kgMS/ha) Days in milk
EFS ($/ha calculated at a $3.50 payout)

2 Maize silage is profitable

A paper presented at the 2006 Dairy3 Conference identified five principal pasture-based dairy farm systems in the Waikato region and described key factors for high performance and financial returns for each system at a $4.00/kgMS payout*. System 5 farms were the most profitable because they milked more cows per ha, produced more milk, grew and harvested more pasture and had a higher milk response to feed. Table 2:
System Use of supplementary feed Cows per hectare Production (kgMS/cow) Production (kgMS/ha) Pasture grown (tDM/ha) Pasture utilisation (%) Supplements (tDM/ha) % of feed allowance purchased Purchased supplement (kgDM/cow) Supplement cost (c/kgDM) Milk response to feed (gMS/kgDM offered) Lactation length (days/cow) Cows milked per person Labour per 120 ha farm Milksolids per person (kg) EFS ($/ha) Return on assets (%)

Performance indicators and financial returns for five best-practice pasture-based dairy farm systems in the Waikato region (achieving 19 tDM/ha pasture)2.
1
Farm all-grass self contained 3.4 352 1,212 19.0 77 0.00 0.0%

4
Used at both ends of the lactation 4.2 443 1,860 19.4 80 6.21 24.0%

5
Used all year round 4.5 522 2,350 19.9 80 11.60 37.0%

Used to extend Used for wintering either lactation and for wintering on or off farm 3.6 360 1,293 19.0 78 0.83 4.2% 3.9 380 1,480 19.2 79 2.58 12.0%

Maize silage fed in the: Spring 3.8 300 332 1,262 268 1,824 23% 157 Summer 3.8 293 309 1,174 256 1,532 3% 82 Autumn 3.8 290 337 1,281 259 1,904 28% 179

3.8 0 285 1,083 228 1,489 -

Increase in EFS over control (%) Milksolids response (gMS/kgDM maize silage fed)

0 0.0

232 19.0

663 19.5

1,479 20.0

2,584 21.5

64

65

68

73

75

Maize silage has also been proven on a large number of top New Zealand commercial dairy farms. For example, in the period 2001-2005, in those areas where maize was grown (i.e. north of Dunedin), 19 of the 23 (83%) regional winners in the Fonterra Westpac Dairy Excellence Awards were using maize silage.

250 175 2.4 60,550 $2,350 5.8%

255 175 2.5 62,064 $2,482 6.0%

272 170 2.7 65,778 $2,691 6.2%

285 150 3.4 65,647 $3,100 6.5%

305 130 4.2 67,143 $3,395 6.6%

Deane, T. 1999. The profitable use of supplementary feeds in pasture based systems. Proceedings of the Ruakura Farmers Conference 51:64-77.

* Note that these were best-practice farm systems with a high pasture yield (19 tDM/ha) that were feeding economically priced supplements. Hedley, P.; Kolver, E.; Glassey, C.; Thorrold, B.; van Bysterveldt, A.; Roche, J.; Macdonald, K. 2006. Achieving farm performance from a range of farm systems. Proceedings of the 4th Dairy3 Conference 4:147.

3 Maize silage allows farmers to harvest more pasture

Maize silage systems allow farmers to lift stocking rates and maximise pasture harvested. With a stack of maize silage on hand to fill feed deficits, farmers can confidently milk more cows per hectare increasing grazing pressure. This makes it easier to maintain pasture quality throughout the season and both pasture drymatter and energy yields are increased. Because it is a forage, maize silage can be used as a tool to constantly keep pasture in its most efficient growth phase. How does this work? When supplements are fed to cows grazing pasture, the animals will eat the supplement and reduce the amount of pasture they eat. This is called substitution. Forages (e.g. maize silage, pasture silage or hay) have higher substitution rates than concentrates (e.g. grain, molasses, tapioca, palm kernel extract). When pasture growth rates are low compared to cow demand, maize silage intake can be lifted, increasing pasture substitution, boosting pasture cover levels and encouraging faster regrowth. The use of a feed pad that doubles as a stand-off pad to feed maize silage also reduces the significant loss of pasture growth potential associated with pugging.

Maize silage allows farmers to harvest more total drymatter

On-farm
Maize allows farmers to maximise the return from their high value dairy land by harvesting more drymatter from every hectare. A replicated, two-year forage production trial conducted in the Waikato showed maize silage followed by a winter crop could produce an annual drymatter yield of over 38 tDM/ha (Figure 1). Even on farms harvesting more than 15 tDM/ha of pasture each year, planting 20% of the farm area in maize silage can lift the overall farm drymatter yield by more than 15%.

Figure 1: Total annual drymatter yields for maize and a range of winter crop options (two-year average data)3.

45 40
Drymatter yield (tDM/ha/year)

Pioneer brand maize silage Winter crop

35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0
Oa ts gr az ed + Ta m ag M ra aiz ze es d ila ge M aiz + Ta es m ila ac ge ut + Fe as tI M Ig aiz ra es ze ila d ge + Fe Ty as pi tI ca Ic ld ut air yf ar m pa stu re* M aiz es ila ge Tr iti ca le + cu t

Maize silage gives me so much more confidence to push this grass-based system to the limits, it gives me great peace of mind.
Noldy Rust, Te Pahu, West Waikato

Noldy and Bev Rust with daughters (from left to right) Jamie, Carmen and Hayley and foster son Hayze.

* Trial did not include a pasture treatment. 3 Densley, R. J.; Austin G. M.; Williams, I. D.; Tsimba, R.; Edmeades, G. O. 2006. Maize silage and winter crop options to maximise drymatter and energy for NZ dairy systems. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association 68:193-197.

M aiz es ila ge

M aiz es ila ge

(continued...)

Run-off
Many dairy farm run-offs are not farmed to their full potential. In a paper presented at Dairy3 in 2007, Scott Ridsdale (DairyNZ) provided an example (Table 3) which showed a partially cropped run-off could harvest 86% more drymatter than a traditional run-off. The partially cropped run-off provided an 83% higher return on assets for the farmer that owned it. Table 3: Comparison between the amount of drymatter harvested from a traditional run-off and one partially cropped with maize4.

Maize silage allows farmers to reduce feed costs

Many New Zealand farmers can grow crops of maize for silage that yield 18-26 tDM/ha on-farm or a run-off for 1420 c/kgDM (in the stack). No other crop can deliver the same amount of harvestable high quality feed at such a low cost. Growing maize silage on-farm allows farmers the opportunity to conduct contour and drainage work, incorporate capital dressing of fertiliser and get rid of hard-to-kill weeds. It is an excellent part of a pasture renewal programme and produces large amounts of low cost, quality feed. While many farmers are growing at least a proportion of their maize silage requirement themselves, a significant portion are also buying in maize silage. Bought in maize silage has a number of advantages including convenience and the ability to bring in more feed than could be grown on the milking platform. Buying in maize silage also brings nutrients onto the milking platform. In fact there is a fertiliser value of up to 3 c/kgDM associated with every kgDM of bought in maize silage. The cost per unit of energy of bought in maize silage is lower than many other commonly available forages (including baleage, hay and straw) and concentrates (including meal and molasses).

Traditional run-off 30 ha Heifer grazing 75 calves 75 yearlings Winter grazing 100 cows for 4 weeks Standing grass for hay 20 tDM

Partially cropped run-off 30 ha Heifer grazing 87 yearlings Winter grazing 120 cows for 4 weeks Maize silage 10 ha or 235 tDM Winter triticale crop 10 ha or 80 tDM

TOTAL FEED HARVESTED 300 tDM or 10 tDM/ha

TOTAL FEED HARVESTED 558 tDM or 18.6 tDM/ha

Maize is the quickest way to get value from land by growing something that will produce a lot of milk from a small area.
Keith Trotter, Matakana, Northland

86% MORE DRYMATTER FROM THE PARTIALLY CROPPED RUN-OFF

Dedicated cropping area

A dedicated cropping area, either on-farm or a run-off, not only increases drymatter yields, it also provides an excellent sink for dairy shed and feed pad effluent. In fact, recent research has shown maize crops grown in paddocks with a history of dairy effluent application may not require any additional fertiliser5 although it is still strongly recommended that a soil test is carried out.

Keith Trotter (right) with daughter Miah and Pioneer Area Manager Craig Booth (left) on Keith and Jennys Matakana dairy farm.

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Ridsdale, S. 2007. Are you getting the best out of your run-off? Proceedings of the 5th Dairy3 Conference 5: 177. FAR 2008.

6 Maize silage reduces the risk associated with feed shortages

The weather has a major impact on the quantity and quality of pasture grown. Adverse weather events negatively impact milk production levels, reproductive performance, and animal health as well as farm profitability. The hybrid maize plant is the most efficient converter of sunlight, water and nutrients into drymatter. Modern maize hybrids have excellent yield stability allowing them to produce consistently high yields even under challenging growing conditions. Having a stack of maize silage on hand allows dairy farmers to weatherproof their feed supply, giving stable production, improved reproduction and greater peace of mind. Maize silage that is well covered and sealed will maintain its quality for several seasons, providing cost-effective, quality feed when pasture growth rates are low.

7 Maize silage is an excellent cow conditioner

Starch-based feeds such as maize grain or silage are readily converted to bodyweight gain. Feeding maize silage in the autumn is a very cost-effective way of increasing cow condition while, at the same time, extending lactation and lifting pasture cover levels. Many New Zealand cows are dried off early because their body condition is too low. Reduced body condition score (CS) at calving affects milk production, as well as reproduction and animal health. DairyNZ information shows a cow calving at CS 4.0 will take 8-10 days longer to start cycling than if she calved at CS 5.0. This will result in a later calving date and up to 15-20 kg of milksolids less the following lactation.

For putting condition score on cows nothing beats maize silage.

Henry Hendriks, Hamilton

Table 4:

Typical cost of maize silage that has been stored for 1-2 years.

Maize silage

Initial feed cost (c/kgDM) 15 - 20 28 - 35

Feed cost after 1 year @ 7% interest (c/kgDM) 16.1 - 21.4 30.0 - 37.5

Feed cost after 2 years@ 7% interest (c/kgDM) 17.2 - 22.9 32.1 - 40.1

Grow on-farm Bought in*

Henry and Nicole Hendriks on their Hamilton farm.

*The price of bought in maize silage varies between regions and seasons. For up-to-date information on the price of bought in maize silage, contact your local maize silage supplier.

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8 Maize silage is simple and easy to use

Well managed farm systems use maize silage and the latest technology to simplify management and reduce workload.

9 Maize silage is the perfect partner for pasture

No single feed can meet the changing nutrient requirements of high-producing dairy cows. For most of the year, New Zealand pastures have high levels of crude protein, but carbohydrate levels are below cow requirements. Maize silage is the perfect partner for pasture because it is a high carbohydrate, lower protein feed. Maize starch delivers an excellent source of rumen-available carbohydrates which allows the rumen microbes to convert more of the pasture protein into milk, increasing rumen efciency and decreasing the amount of nitrogen excreted by the cow (Table 5).

Table 5:

Effect of supplementary feed source on N output in milk, dung and urine in absolute and relative terms6.
N output (kgN/cow) (% intake) Milk 6 (16) 6 (25) 6 (38) 6 (50) Dung 8 (22) 7 (29) 5 (31) 3 (25) Urine 23 (62) 11 (46) 5 (31) 3 (25)

Type of silage Lucerne Pasture Cereal Maize

N intake* (kg N/cow) 37 24 16 12

*Based on 1 tDM per cow.

Batt-Latch automatic gate release timers release the cows from the paddock and they make their own way to the feed pad prior to milking. This saves signicant time that is usually spent getting the cows in each morning and afternoon. Large amounts of maize silage are fed quickly into feed bins. The use of Pioneer brand 11C33 maize silage aerobic stability inoculant means feed bins can even be lled the day before. Maize silage is highly palatable and, because its energy comes from a combination of starch and digestible bre, it is safe to feed.

I always thought maize silage had potential. Now I swear by it and wouldnt farm without it. Alistar Jordan, Egmont Village, Taranaki
Alistair Jordan (centre) with son Kent (left) and farm manager Murray Hinz (right) in front of their maize silage stack.
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Ledgard, S. 2006. Nitrogen management why is it important and what can we do about it? Proceedings of the 2006 Dairy3 Conference 4: 23-31.

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10 Growing and feeding maize silage is positive for the environment

While some imported by-product feeds have a significantly adverse environmental impact on the countries that produce them, maize silage is an environmentally sustainable, locally produced crop which reduces many of the environmental concerns associated with the intensification of dairying. The extensive rooting system of maize allows it to capture nitrogen and water at depths two to three times greater than most C3 grasses such as ryegrass. This means maize can utilise both nitrogen and water that has leached out of the root-zone of pasture. In addition, maize is more than twice as responsive as pasture to both nitrogen and water.

Free, no obligation Farm System Analysis.

Whether youve used maize silage before, or are planning to feed it for the first time, you will benefit from a Pioneer Farm System Analysis. One of our experienced Forage Specialist team will come to your farm and undertake a free, no obligation analysis of your operation and then, taking into account your farming goals, recommend the opportunities for your farm. By using the Farm System Analysis (FSA) tool our Forage Specialists can help you answer fundamental questions such as:
Am I feeding the right supplement at the right time? Is my feed supply large enough for the number of cows and my production target? Is my current stocking rate right for my farm? Are my cows producing milk efficiently? Could I milk for longer and if so, how can I achieve this?

Table 6:

Yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of different forages grown in different seasons in New Zealand and Australia7.

Forage
Perennial Ryegrass Fescue Lucerne Clover (red, white, Persian) Maize Sorghum

Yield (tDM/ha) 18.7 21.8 20.3 14.8 25.5 18.0

WUE (kgDM/ha.mm) 16.2 20.0 18.8 18.5 34.5 28.0

If you are already feeding maize silage or are thinking about using it, a Pioneer Forage Specialist can help you to maximise the return from your maize silage investment. To make an appointment, call 0800 PIONEER (0800 746 633).

When fed out on a feed pad that doubles as a stand-off pad, maize silage can reduce dairy herd emissions of nitrous oxide, a powerful greenhouse gas.

Ian Williams, Pioneer Forage Specialist B. Agr. Sc., MDM (Dist.)

Neal, J.S., Greenwood, K.L., de Ruiter , J.M., and Martin, R.J. 2007 Water use efficiency, productivity and profitability how do forages compare? p. 240-255. In: Proc. Australasian Dairy Science Symposium.

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Your local Pioneer brand Forage Specialist Team

AREA MANAgER/FORAgE SPECIALIST FOR SOUTH ISLAND gRANT MATTHEWS B. Sc., B. V. Sc. Phone: 03 322 5102 Fax: 03 322 5108 Mobile: 027 291 1881 gmatthews@genetic.co.nz

AREA MANAgER/FORAgE SPECIALIST FOR MANAWATU, HAWKES BAY, WAIRARAPA & HOROWHENUA MARK BURKE B. App. Sc. (Ag.) Phone: 06 328 9039 Fax: 06 328 9037 Mobile: 027 451 3987 mburke@genetic.co.nz

FORAgE SPECIALIST FOR EAST COAST & BAY OF PLENTY IAN WILLIAMS B. Agr. Sc., MDM (Dist.) Phone: 07 843 2033 Fax: 07 843 2034 Mobile: 027 495 0789 iwilliams@genetic.co.nz

FORAgE SPECIALIST FOR NORTHLAND & NORTH WAIKATO ANDREW POWELL B. Sc. (Ag. Sc.) (Hons) Phone: 07 856 4183 Fax: 07 856 4184 Mobile: 027 451 2843 apowell@genetic.co.nz

FORAgE SPECIALIST FOR CENTRAL & SOUTH WAIKATO WENDY DEWAR B. Sc. (Ag. Sc.) Phone: 07 870 2437 Fax: 07 870 2934 Mobile: 027 471 0116 wdewar@genetic.co.nz

FORAgE SPECIALIST FOR TARANAKI & RANgITIKEI VANESSA ROBERTS B. Com Ag. (VFM) Phone: 06 274 8018 Mobile: 027 477 6957 vroberts@genetic.co.nz

FORAgE PRODUCTS MANAgER DR JAKOB KLEINMANS PhD (Agr. Sc.) Phone: 09 307 4165 Mobile: 027 444 9958 jkleinmans@genetic.co.nz

For more information phone the Pioneer Advice Line toll-free

(0800 746 633)

2009, Genetic Technologies Limited. No part of this publication can be reproduced without prior written consent from Genetic Technologies Limited. Pioneer brand products are provided subject to the terms and conditions of purchasing, which are part of the labelling and purchase documents. , SM, TM , Trademarks and service marks of Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. The information in this publication is general in nature only. Although the information in this publication is believed to be accurate, no liability (whether as a result of negligence or otherwise) is accepted for any loss of any kind that may arise from actions based on the contents of this publication. The milksolids and profit increases referred to in this publication are illustrative only of the potential for gain when using Pioneer brand maize silage.