Dairy farmers need to provide their cows with the necessary energy and nutrition to keep them in body condition and maximize milk production. Although silage is an essential nutritional tool, it alone is not sufficient. Dairy cows also need fat supplements to reach their milk production potential. Adding fat supplements to silage is an excellent option to increase milk production.
Leafy hybrids
When selecting a corn silage variety, consider its disease resistance and productivity. These traits are important for animal productivity. Disease severity is estimated by observing leaf lesions. Leafy hybrids are ideal for silage production because of their high forage yields and low NDF (neutral detergent fiber) content. This trait promotes passage rate and reduces rumen fill.
Leafy hybrids tend to produce higher yields than bmrs. They are also more digestible and can increase milk production by several pounds per cow. However, these varieties yield less silage than conventional varieties, and the cost of seed is high. If the milk production increase is consistent, however, it will balance out the lower yields. In addition, if the silage is stored separately, the economic benefits of these hybrids can be maximized.
Leafy hybrids are the most digestible silage for dairy cows. They contain the highest amount of protein, and are the most easily digestible. The problem with grain hybrids is that their stalks tend to dry out quickly. This can reduce the quality of the silage and reduce feed efficiency.
Leafy hybrids are best for silage production in dairy farms. The University of Minnesota conducted multiple silage trials using different soil types and weather conditions. This indicates that hybrids that perform well in more than one environment are likely to perform well the following year.
Conventional hybrids
The economic value of corn hybrid selection for dairy cows can be derived by calculating the amount of corn silage fed annually by various groups of animals on a dairy farm. For example, if a group consists of three lactating cows, two dry cows, and two heifers, then the amount of corn silage fed by each group will be the same as if the group consisted of only one lactating cow. To determine the financial value of the difference, simply multiply the amount of corn silage fed annually by the price of soybean meal.
Conventional hybrid silage for dairy cows also differs from its hybrid cousins in certain important ways. For example, a high oil hybrid is characterized by 8 to 10% oil content, while a conventional hybrid has only four to 5% oil. This increase in oil content helps increase the energy content of silage while decreasing the amount of starch. Additionally, high-oil hybrids tend to have higher stover-to-ear ratio.
High-protein corn silages can be supplemented with corn grain or soybean meal to increase the protein content. The higher protein content of corn hybrids can also reduce feed costs, because these silages require less protein.
Wheat hybrids
In a dairy setting, a dual-purpose wheat hybrid is the most beneficial option for silage. This type of crop is easy to replace with grain corn and also has high nutritional values for cattle. The problem with corn silage is that it is difficult to balance rations and achieve desired milk production.
The quality of silage is dependent on how easily it can be digested and the amount of energy it contains. For this reason, a good silage crop should be high in grain content. The best sorghum hybrids are those that get more of their yield from grain. Two such hybrids are NK300 and SP3904 BD BMR. Both of these varieties can provide silage with a starch content of 15% or more.
The selection of seed corn for silage is also important. There are several types of hybrids and there are several reasons to choose the right one. The best hybrid should have a high total plant yield of digestible fiber and starch, an extended harvest window, and sufficient sugar content for promoting fermentation. It should also be able to yield high quality milk when mixed into TMR.
In vitro NDF digestibility varies among corn hybrids. Improved IVNDFD increases DM intake and milk yield. A one-unit increase in IVNDFD increases milk yield by 0.55 lb/cow/day. Brown midrib mutants are associated with a 5% variation in IVNDFD.
