Maize and grass silage is the best combination and the cheapest forage available
In the right conditions, maize can be a relatively straight forward crop to grow and ensile, and provides good animal nutrition.
Maize and grass silage is the best combination and the cheapest forage available.
High starch coming from maize improves milk protein and higher protein means more money for your milk. Maize is also ideal for finishing cattle. Maize can be fed to milking cows over winter and at grass during periods of scarcity in spring or summer.
Maize likes a sheltered field with a free draining soil. The altitude should not exceed 100 metres above sea level. It is important to grow an early maturing variety that will have a good mature cob full of starch before mid October.
It grows best in areas with a long growing season, freedom from late spring and early winter frosts, high overall temperatures and maximum sunlight. Fields should be south facing where possible.
Elevated and exposed sites are generally unsuitable. Maize needs good soil and is not tolerant of soil compaction. Very light sandy soils will give reduced yields. Growing on very heavy clay soils with poor drainage, can delay sowing date and make harvesting difficult as well as causing damage to the soil structure. Maize can be grown with or without a film cover.
>>It is important that maize is not sown too early because maize seed / young plants need a soil temperature of at least 8 C to grow. (Higher than for most other crops) Long cold periods at the germination stage can cause many of the seeds / plants to die or result in weak plants, giving reduced yields.
>>The cover allows sowing to be carried out earlier because it quickly brings about a significant increase in the temperature of the air and soil beneath it.
Varieties suitable for growing with and without a film cover are presented in separate Tables. These varieties have a minimum of three years of trials on farms in various locations. The trials are grown within commercial maize crops and in accordance with good farming practice.
The uncovered trials were in Cork, Waterford, South Kilkenny, Meath and Kildare. The covered trials were in Cork, South Kilkenny, Meath and Kildare. The results over three years are combined in a single evaluation.
>>The control were Andante, Avenir and Fergus: 2009 trials, Andante, Fergus and Nimrod: 2010 trials and Andante, Fergus and Katy: 2011 trials.
(R): Recommended for general use. (PR): Provisionally Recommended (The number after PR indicates the number of years provisionally recommended).
Yield and quality data shown for Uncovered trials (Table 2) and covered trials (Table 3) are not directly comparable, because of different locations and conditions.
Characteristics of the Varieties in Table 2, when Grown without Cover.
>>The Control varieties were Justina and Schumi in 2009 trials and Justina and Surprise in 2010 and 2011 trials.
Crops grown under cover produce relatively consistent yield and quality from year to year. The cover reduces the adverse effects of poor climatic conditions.
Yield and quality data shown for uncovered trials (Table 2) and covered trials (Table 3) are not directly comparable, because the trials were grown in different locations and under different conditions.
Characteristics of the Varieties in Table 3, when Grown With Cover.
