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For Higher Milk Yields
Why Maize?
Maize makes high quality ensiled forage for dairy and beef cattle and can be effectively utilised in sheep diets.
Extensive research demonstrates that well managed maize silage in the diet of dairy cows increases forage intake, thus milk yield and quality.
In the light of huge increases in commodity and fertilizer costs, maximizing the use of homegrown forages is essential to maintaining cost efficient production. Maize offers greater consistency and higher yields than grass silages with savings in production costs per unit.
Increases in the forage maize acreage throughout the UK reflect the growing awareness of the positive impact maize silage can have towards profitable production and the progress achieved by maize breeders in developing hybrids adapted to more marginal UK locations.
UK Maize hectares trend:
• 1985 14,150 hectares
• 1990 40,450 hectares
• 2007 121,400 hectares
Close to a tenfold increase in 20 years!
Earlier Maturing Hybrids
Advancing Development of Hybrids
Evaluation of hybrids for adaptation to UK growing conditions is paramount to the successful introduction of quality products to the market. In order to achieve this Huntseeds and KWS have established an extensive UK specific testing programme and breeding schedule to produce high quality, consistent and stable hybrids.
The replicated trial plot system employs commercial husbandry and machinery incorporating methodology and modification to enable accurate uniformity of comparative studies. Trials are repeated across regions of contrasting potential and hybrids are initially selected for good consistent performance under favourable and marginal conditions.
Selected hybrids enter more extensive evaluation, with detailed analysis of field and quality parameters at more sites, and are compared against standard controls and prominent commercial varieties. Those hybrids that this scheme identifies as having improved attributes will be entered in National Trials, providing an independent data source, whilst continuing in the Huntseeds/KWS programme.
Taking 4 to 5 years to progress through this rigorous evaluation programme, new hybrids reach commercialisation supported by sound technical data and hundreds of varieties are rejected in the process.
Maximising Yield Potential
Advantages of Maize
• Fuel, fertiliser and wages are far less than growing grass silage as there is only one harvest
• Maize harvested at the correct dry matter produces little or no effluent
• Performs consistently in continuous and arable rotations
• Provides opportunity for efficient utilisation of organic manures
• Very consistent in quality and yield
• A wide harvest window
• Out performs grass in difficult dry summers
• Increasing Maize in the ration raises both the production of milk in dairy cows and growth in beef animals.
• Silage fermentation is consistent reducing the need for additives
• Its now possible to grow maize in very marginal areas due to the success of growing under plastic
