Maize silage is highly important and beneficial as a supplement feed item that supports cow condition, nutrition, optimizes quality, and boosts milk production. It will maximize farm profitability and environmental outputs. Maize silage increases productivity by fulfilling feed deficiencies, especially reduces the risk of metabolic disease in early lactation, and becomes a part of a balanced diet.
Maize silage is full of required minerals. It also extends lactation, maintains milk quality, and allows more milk in these days. It provides the required balance of carbohydrates and Fiber. Let’s explore the major challenges, major benefits of maize silage for dairy cows.
Challenges Affecting Pasture Productivity and Sustainability
Stable or low pasture yields and poor pasture growth occur for several reasons, such as weak pasture, changing weather, weak management, and dominance of certain plant species. Many farmers solve the problem by adding supplements in the feed without any problem or negative effect on the environment and long-term profitability.
Key Factors Contributing to Pasture Decline
- Climate change:Farmers must face challenges in climate change because it can negatively impact their growth; for example, unpredictable precipitation, increased temperature, and droughts, which affect starch and protein content.
- Poor pasture management:Need to follow some strategies for proper fertilization application for early grazing and weed control.
- Species dominance: It will check both persistence and productivity.
- Masking the Issues:Farmers can maintain production and increase pasture renewal, which increases waste and costs.
Strategies for improvement
- Sustainable management: This phase is based on some practices that will improve environmental efficiency and performance, like pest control, fertilization, proper harvesting methods, and optimal fertilization. It means the accurate dry matter content is 30-38% and the required size is 10-20 mm. It is good for proper storage and wrapping.
- Rotational grazing:In this system where animals are allowed to regrow, and in higher pasture productivity and soil health. It improves nutritional management and reduces cost. The actual points are to adjust grazing rotation based on availability, then need to control animal movement, and manage other periods as per growth speed.
- Strategic species selection:Select species as per local needs and conditions. For example, hybrid ryegrass is good for growth. Pay attention to a holistic strategy.
Benefits of maize silage for dairy cows
- High energy and consistent source
- High yield & Less labour
- No extra cost
- Available throughout the year
- Flexibility
- Improved performance
- Enhance Digestibility
- Efficient land use
Factors for successful feeding
If you want a successful maize silage need then you need to follow some points like correct maturity (28-38% dry matter), processing it in an airtight material, and finally, careful continuous feeding. A complete diet depends on low mineral content and protein for high performance.
- Harvesting & Ensiling process:harvest when its stage is at the dry matter (28-38%) with the milk line test as help.
- If it is too early, then it can lead to poor fermentation and excess moisture.
- If it is too late, then can increase Fiber lignification and reduce digestibility.
- Quality control: It is based on managing the whole process of crop selection with proper ensiling tips and lab tests. The target is achieving high quality maize silage and preventing waste.
- Super quality silage can increase milk yield by 5-10%.
- Poor quality silage can cause health issues or is a risk for mycotoxin contamination.
- Lab analysis:after ensiling process, you need to understand the nutritional profile, like dry matter, energy, protein, starch, Fiber content, and calculate the actual ratio.
- Balanced ratio:A balanced feed items combine all major components such as minerals supplements, protein sources, and energy like vitamins and minerals. It will fill high-energy gaps, essential mineral such as magnesium, phosphorus, and calcium. You need to meet the cow’s needs or consult nutritionist for required proteins and minerals.
- Proper feeding:When feeding, open the silo from the top to the bottom rather than lifting from the bottom to avoid causing air to penetrate the face.
- Maintain a tight face and remove any loose material daily.
- Start with small amounts (1-2 kg) for cows in the first week after calving and gradually increase the amount.
- Quality over quantity:You need to focus on high-quality silage so that the deficiencies of animals can be fulfilled for better performance.
- Prevent spoilage:The farmer intends to avoid losses and major points is to handle the crop.
Storage and management
- Storage location:here, you need to find a suitable location, so choose a location for maize silage that reducing environmental risk.
- Storage type:It can be stored in the form of bales, silos, or bunkers. The stacks provide flexibility.
Management to provide maize silage to dairy cows
Maize silage is an important part of feed and is provided to dairy cows to improve health and performance, especially in Pakistan.
- High Energy Content for Milk Production
- Consistent Feed Supply Throughout the Year
- Balanced Nutrition and Digestibility
- Cost-Effective and Labor-Efficient Feed Option
- Improves Animal Health and Fertility
- Environmentally Sustainable Feed Solution
- Enhances Dairy Farm Management
Muhammad Arif CEO, MBA in Finance and Marketing from South Korea University. 15 years plus experience in Agriculture Waste and Animal Feed Production, Facility Management & Export