Increase run-off efficiency
Many dairy farm run-offs are not farmed to their full potential. Growing maize silage can help increase the drymatter production from run-offs.
An analysis by Scott Ridsdale (DairyNZ)9 shows that a partially cropped run-off growing maize silage could harvest 86% more drymatter than a traditional run-off. The partially cropped run-off provided an 83% higher return on assets for the farmer that owned it.
| Table 5: Comparison between the amount of drymatter harvested from a traditional run-off and one partially cropped with maize9 | |
|---|---|
| Traditional run-off 30 ha | Partially cropped run-off 30 ha |
| Heifer grazing 75 calves 75 yearlings |
Heifer grazing 85 yearlings |
| Winter grazing 100 cows for 4 weeks |
Winter grazing 120 cows for 4 weeks |
| Standing grass for hay 20 tDM |
Maize silage 10 ha or 235 tDM |
| - | Winter triticale crop 10 ha or 80 tDM |
| TOTAL FEED HARVESTED 300 tDM or 10 tDM/ha |
TOTAL FEED HARVESTED 558 tDM or 18.6 tDM/ha |
9 Ridsdale, S. 2007. Are you getting the best out of your run-off? Proceedings of the 5th Dairy3 Conference 5: 177 -185.