"This year the main varieties were Fieldstar and Pinnacle, both from Limagrain. Pinnacle is a new LGAN accredited variety and one of the highest starch yielders combined with high cell wall digestibility. This means it provides an excellent balance of energy from both starch and digestible fibre, leading to a high ME content in the silage."
LG Animal Nutrition (LGAN) varieites have the genetic potential to deliver superior nutritional value, whilst maintaining excellent agronomic qualities and yield, thereby improving ration performance.
Maize was drilled on 25th April and was all harvested by 5th October. Ten acres are harvested in early Septemeber every year to provide maize to the earliest calvers. Yield across the 90 acres averages 15t/acre. The crop analysed at 35.7% dry matter, 11.5ME, and 38.8% starch. This yearly crop will not be analysed until it has had time to ferment completely.
Matt Jenkin says having good quality maize is the foundation of all diets fed on the farm. He says dry matter content is important as it helps drive total dry matter intakes.
The winter TMR which is fed once a day comprimises of first cut grass silage, maize, crimped cereals, hipro soya, rapemeal, sugar beet pulp, straw, Lintec, protected fat, minerals and water to bring the total TMR to 46% dry matter.
“The balance of forages allows us to build a balanced diet for M+28 litres outside and cake is then fed to yield above this to a maximum of 4kg,” Matt explains. “Lintec is included from September to December to provide omega-3 fatty acids to support fertility and is withdrawn when the majority of the herd are back in calf. Fertility performance has been improving consistently which is essential given the aim to tighten the calving block.
“We also feed maize to dry cows as part of a partial DCAB system. Kept outside on minimal grass, they receive a TMR comprising chopped straw, maize, rape, soya, minerals mag chloride and gypsum.”