Better silage gives opportunity for lower feed costs this winter

The results show that the initial promise indicated when early first cuts were analysed has been maintained with improved milk potential. Second cuts also higher in quality, in part due to an earlier harvest. Wholecrops are also analysing well.

This could lead to a bought in feed cost saving of £3,000 over the winter in a 100-cow herd.

Trouw ruminant technical development manager Dr Liz Homer said the key will be to balance diets to exploit the potential in the silages.

"Provided diets are carefully formulated to balance silages and to maintain good rumen health then there is a tremendous opportunity to increase milk from forage and improve margins,"

With more than 3,500 first cut samples now analysed, on average, crops have a higher dry matter, crude protein content on energy levels than last year. NDF levels are lower reflecting the earlier cup crops and pH is slightly up which means clamp face management would be important once clamps are open.

"On the traditional ME basis first cuts are averaging 11 ME ,while on the more accurate Dynamic Energy approach they are coming in at 6.2 2MJ," Dr Homer said.

Second cut show an identical picture with better dry matter, energy and protein but reduced NDF. They will also need careful management at the feed face to avoid wastage. Wholecrop is generally less variable year on year and is analysing very close to previously previous years, once again providing a useful starch based forage.

Doctor Homer said that looking at the milk production potential of grass silages, on an ME basis first first cut wood support M+6 litres from an intake of 10 kg dry matter of seconds chat support M+5 lires.

"However, this underestimate the true potential," she said. "Using Dynamic Energy, a term developed in the NutriOpt dairy system and which predicts the energy truly available to the cow, both first and second cuts should be expected to support M +8 litres provided the rumen is well-balanced.

"In 2016, diets needed bypass protein sources sources such as bypass soya and slowly fermented carbohydrate, this year the need is for fermentable protein sources possibly from a mix of soya, rape and even urea while more bypass starch will be needed suggesting maize could replace some wheat. This will also help reduce the risk of acid load.

"By feeding the correct supplements it will be possible to capitalise on the value of forages and reduce overall costs this winter," Dr Homer added.

Reflecting the different straights required to effectively balance the silages, the cost saving between the 2016 and 2017 diets would be15p/cow/day, worth £3000/100 cows for a 200-day winter.

Based on current straights prices the 2016 diet to produce 35 litres would have cost £4.78/cow per day (13.65ppl) while the 2017 diet would cost £4.53/cow (12.94ppl).