Maize dry matters fall 3% in varied year
Trouw Nutrition GB’s recent forage sampling shows a 3% decline in maize dry matter (DM), averaging 30.7% due to a wet spring and cooler summer. Typically, DM is around 33-34%. The lower DM may impact winter forage stock management and inclusion rates in livestock diets. However, maize production results have varied, with some good forages being produced despite the challenging season.
A slow growing season has been blamed for a 3% fall in maize dry matter levels in a nutrition company’s published forage sampling data.
Trouw Nutrition GB’s first 750 analyses have averaged 30.7% dry matter (DM) after a wet spring and cooler summer increased the risk of crop immaturity and delayed harvests.
Nacia Bonnick, ruminant technical adviser at Trouw Nutrition, said a typical year would return DM figures of 33-34%.
“This will clearly have an impact on inclusion rates in diets and management of forage stocks over winter,” she said.
Mixed results
However, maize production varied widely this year, and some very good forages have been produced by growers .
Source Link : Farmers Weekly
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