Maize silage: Getting the best possible feed ensiled properly

Wastage and spoilage at feed-out can be a huge financial cost with maize silage. Good management when filling the maize pit is critical to avoid these issues

Maize silage harvesting in progress off Carrigrohane Road in Cork. Picture: Denis Minihane.

For many dairy and beef producers, the final piece of the winter/spring forage jigsaw will be put in place once their maize silage is safely in the pit. I mentioned in a recent article that the 2024 maize silage harvest would be a number of weeks later than last year and now as we head into the middle of October the harvesters have just started to move into the more advanced crops. 

In the last week some early maturing crops have been ensiled and some other crops 90/95% fit to cut were taken out of heavier ground types before they get too wet.