While New Zealand research shows most dairy farmers will maximise their returns by planting the highest-yielding maize silage hybrid, a number of farmers are looking for high starch maize silage to drive per-cow production.

By Robin Billett,
Pioneer’s Bay of Plenty regional manager

Sources: Kolver et al, 2003. Ranking maize hybrids for silage quality and milk production in pasture-based dairying. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 63: 101-1061;

Mahanna, W. 2009. Digestibility of corn starch revisited: Part 2. Feedstuffs Vol 81. No 10;  Johnson, L, Harrison, J.H, Hunt, C, Shinners, K, Doggett, C.G, Sapienza, D. 1999. Nutritive value of corn silage as affected by maturity and mechanical processing: a contemporary review;

Journal Dairy Science 82:2813-2825; Jensen, C, Weisbjerg, M.R, Norgaard, P, Hvelplund, T. 2005. Effect of maize silage maturity on site of starch and NDF digestion in lactating dairy cows. Anim. Feed Sci. Tech. 118: 279-294.