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Getting more out of maize silage

Maize silage provides a profitable, simple and sustainable way to increase production on your farm. Good harvest and stack management will ensure that you maximise the financial return from your maize silage investment.

When you make any silage you always lose some drymatter and nutrients in the ensiling and feed-out process. The key aim of maize silage making and feeding is to minimise drymatter losses and maximise maize silage quality.

With better quality feed and more of it, production of milksolids is higher. This means even more milk and more money from your maize silage investment.

Getting the maize silage process right

Producing and feeding quality maize silage requires a combination of a quality crop, quality inoculant, excellent fermentation, and excellent stack and feed-out management.

The ultimate goal for your stack is to eliminate oxygen and create an environment where good fermentation can take place.

During good fermentation plant sugars are converted into lactic acid by the right strains of lactic acid producing bacteria working in oxygen-free conditions.

Yeasts and moulds grow in the presence of air which heat and reduce the quality and the quantity of your maize silage. Oxygen-free conditions can be achieved by compacting air out of your maize silage and keeping it out by properly covering and sealing your stack.

Follow the five steps on the next page to help maximise the quality of your maize silage.

Maize silage making guide

	Plan ahead Book your contractor and check that they can apply Pioneer^® brand inoculant at harvest time. Prepare your storage area and design your bunker or stack to match feed-out rate. Order maize silage making supplies (e.g. inoculant, covers, silage tape).

	Correct harvest management Aim for 30-38% whole plant drymatter. Chop at 12-14 mm theoretical chop length. Use a plant processor to ensure all kernels are cracked.

	Apply Pioneer^® brand inoculant View our product range to determine the best Pioneer^® brand inoculant for your maize crop. Ensure that your contractor applies Pioneer^® brand inoculant at harvest time.

	Compaction Spread each load into 100-150 mm layers. Compact until the stack surface is firm.

	Sealing Use a high quality plastic cover. Seal the edges with sand or lime. Ensure tyres are touching one another across your stack.

The benefits of using a quality inoculant

You've invested in maize silage, so make sure you get the most out of it.

More milk return

References

¹Returns calculated using drymatter recovery data from Pioneer and university trials, Washington State University dairy trial results and a milksolids payout of $6.05/kgMS.

Reduced heating at feed-out time

Maize silage contains high levels of readily available sugars. When exposed to the air at feed-out time, yeasts and moulds can grow producing heat and reducing maize silage quality.

Pioneer^® brand 11C33 is a revolutionary maize silage specific inoculant that enhances silage fermentation and reduces the growth of yeasts and moulds responsible for heating and spoilage at feed-out time.

11C33 reduces total drymatter losses (including fermentation and stack losses at feed-out time) by 2.4% when compared to an untreated control².

11C33 also increases the time it takes for silage to heat after exposure to the air by an average of 35 hours when compared to an untreated control³.

11C33 inoculated maize silage can be fed-out up to a day in advance without heating.⁴

References

²Data collected from 48 trials conducted between 2000 and 2002. Losses after exposure to oxygen measured under the specifications of the Honig model.
³Aerobic stability of whole plant maize silage treated with Pioneer^® brand 11C33. Forage was ensiled for 50-75 days and aerobic stability determined as the number of hours silage remained cool when exposed to air under the specifications of the Honig model. Data is an average from 48 locations tested from 2000-2002
⁴For maximum aerobic stability gains, 11C33 inoculated maize silage must ferment for a minimum of 30 days before feeding.

Stack management

Good stack management plays a critical role in maize silage feed quality and reducing feed wastage. Below are some tips to help you optimise your maize silage stack management.



Feed-out management tips
Aim to keep the face of the maize silage stack tight throughout the feed-out period. You shouldn't be able to push your fingers into the stack further than your fingernails. Maize silage that is loose allows air to penetrate into the stack. This air allows yeasts and moulds to grow causing your maize silage to heat, reducing quality and quantity.

Tips for keeping the stack tight
	Careful use of the tractor bucket will minimise maize silage loosening. If possible, use the bucket to chip down maize silage and then scoop it up from the ground.
	Avoid digging into the stack as this loosens maize silage that will not be fed for a few days allowing air to penetrate into the stack.
	When feeding-out, first work out how far into the face you need to feed. Scoop out the lowest section of maize silage, then chip down the maize silage one section at a time starting from the bottom.
	Another alternative is to move sideways across the bunker face removing small amounts of maize silage from the whole face. Maize silage grabs, face shaver and block cutters will assist in keeping the face of the stack or bunker tight.
	It is not necessary to lower the maize silage cover if maize is being fed on a daily basis as the air that is trapped underneath tends to heat creating the ideal environment for mould growth.
	If birds are loosening the stack face place shade cloth across the face to minimise damage.

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