Pioneer Technical Insight
 310
MAIZE PRODUCT OPTIONS
A range of high quality forages and concentrates can be harvested from the hybrid maize plant. This technical insight outlines maize options, their cost and benefits.
ONE PLANT - MANY FEEDS
Most farmers are aware that hybrid maize can be harvested as silage or grain. There are in fact a myriad of products that can be made from the maize plant (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Maize product options
Maize grain has the highest level of starch and the highest feed value but also has the lowest yield. Maize silage provides the highest level of fibre and the lowest feed value but has the highest yield (Figure 2). For more information on maize cutting height see Pioneer Technical Insight 335.
Figure 2: Maize plant composition and yield
The relative drymatter and energy yield and energy density of the maize options are shown in Table 1.
Table 1: Maize options relative yield and feed value*
|
Maize silage |
Earlage |
High moistur corn |
Dried grain |
Relative drymatter yield
(tDM/ha) |
100% |
70% |
52% |
52% |
Relative energy yield
(MJME/ha) |
100% |
78% |
65% |
65% |
Relative energy density
MJME/kgDM) |
100% |
111% |
126% |
126% |
*Calculated according to Mahlkow 02 and German feed tables. Assumes 6% fermentation losses for all ensiled feeds and 3% maize grain drying losses.
Table 2: Pros and cons of high energy maize options
ESTIMATED COST
The approximate cost per unit of drymatter and per unit of energy is shown in Table 3. Because it delivers the highest yields, maize silage has the lowest cost per unit of drymatter and energy.
Table 3: Estimated cost for a range of maize products and a user who grows and feeds their own crop
| |
Maize silage |
Earlage |
High moisutre corn |
Dry grain |
Yield
(tDM/ha) |
22.5 |
15.8 |
11.7 |
11.7 |
Energy Density
(MJME/kgDM) |
10.8 |
12.0 |
13.6 |
13.6 |
Energy yield (as feed)
(GJM/ha) |
228 |
178 |
150 |
154 |
Maize growing cost1
($ha) |
2,432 |
2,139 |
2,139 |
2,139 |
Maize harvesting cost2
($ha) |
1,400 |
1,135 |
702 |
629 |
Feeding out cost3
(@$16/Tdm) ($/ha) |
338 |
237 |
176 |
57 |
Drying and processing4
($/ha) |
|
|
468 |
1,110 |
Total cost
($/ha fed) |
4,170 |
3,511 |
3,485 |
3,935 |
Drymatter cost
(c/kgDM) |
18.5 |
22.3 |
29.8 |
33.6 |
Energy cost
(c/MJME) |
1.72 |
1.86 |
2.19 |
2.47 |
Assumptions
1Maize silage cost based on Pioneer® Brand Forage Products 10/11 pg 20. All others based on
Pioneer® Brand Maize Hybrids for Grain 10/11 pg 18.
2 Maize silage cost based on Pioneer® Brand Forage Products 10/11 pg 20. Earlage assumes harvest costs of $823/ha + bagging $158/ha ($10/tDM) + $155/ha Pioneer® brand 11C33 inoculant. HMC assumes harvest of $360/ha + $117/ha + $88/ha Pioneer® brand 11C33 inoculant + $137/ha cartage. Dried maize = $360/ha combine + $269/ha carting..
3 Assumes that the cost of grain and silage feed-out is equal.
4 HMC processing cost $468/ha. Dry Grain processing cost $468/ha + $642/ha for drying ($43/wet tonne).
COST OF STORING MAIZE FEEDS
Storing maize for a season is a very viable option given current low interest rates. Maize silage that has been stored for a year will still be cheaper than earlage, high moisture corn or dry grain harvested in the current season (Table 4).
Table 4: Cost of storing maize feeds for a season calculated at 7% interest
| |
Maize silage |
Earlage |
High moisture corn |
Dry grain |
| Harvest time |
|
|
|
|
Drymatter cost
(c/kgDM) |
18.5 |
22.3 |
29.8 |
33.6 |
Energy cost
(c/MJME) |
|
1.9 |
2.2 |
2.5 |
| After one year |
|
|
|
|
Drymatter cost
(c/kgDM) |
19 |
23.9 |
31.9 |
36.0 |
Energy cost
(c/MJME) |
|
2.0 |
2.3 |
2.6 |
Pioneer® brand products are sold subject to the terms and conditions of purchasing, which are part of the labeling 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.
© 2010, Genetic Technologies Limited. No part of this publication can be reproduced without prior written consent from Genetic Technologies Limited.
Revised: May 2010
Expires: September 2011
|
> Services > Technical Insights
