Silage quality key if producing more milk this autumn
Spring milk producers wanting to maximise milk from grazed grass, must also maximise silage quality, as there is often an need to supplement silage in early spring and late autumn.
If farmers make bulky, low quality ‘stemmy’ silage, milk production from this will be minimal.
However, if farmers can cut silage earlier and have an excellent first cut to supplement cows during lactation when needed and feed to maiden heifers, making a bulkier second cut to feed to dry cows, they will reduce their cost base as lower levels of concentrate supplementation will be necessary.
High quality bales are an excellent source of energy and protein if made at covers not exceeding 1600kgs/ha.
With quotas not an issue, there will be more milk produced this autumn, but if we don’t carefully plan for this, additional lactation days may be unprofitable.
If first cut is very advanced and quality is already poor, then make a conscientious effort to ensile a high quality second cut.
