It’s well understood that extending lactation is an excellent way to increase milk production and, ideally, profitability. Once a cow is dry, she won’t produce milk until the following season, so it’s worth planning for next season and considering using maize silage to extend milking periods.
Consider maize silage for future profitability
Maize silage is a practical and profitable feed option for maximising your herd’s potential. With interest rates easing and a strong milk payout forecasted for the upcoming season, milking for longer next season makes financial sense. Maize silage grown on-farm or bought in can be extremely cost-effective, making it a solid feed option that won’t break the bank.
Filling feed gaps with maize silage
It’s no secret this season that dry conditions have reduced pasture growth and milk flow in many North Island dairy regions. With feed on hand, like a well-preserved stack of maize silage, you can continue milking and achieve a profitable milk response. Maize silage is a reliable feed option for maintaining milk production. It also stores well, ensuring flexibility if pasture conditions improve.
Build pasture cover and lengthen rotations
Feeding maize silage is an effective tool for helping farmers extend grazing rotations and build pasture cover ahead of winter. If cows are fed maize silage when there is adequate pasture, they will tend to leave it behind; however, while this is a problem in spring, it can be a benefit in autumn, as it allows farmers to build pasture cover while still fully feeding their cows.
Maintain cow condition with maize silage
Extending lactation requires careful management of Body Condition Score (BCS). Maize silage is a nutrient-dense feed that supports milk production while maintaining cow condition and pasture cover. Farmers should aim for BCS targets of 5.5 for first and second calvers and 5 for the rest of the herd. Cows calving at BCS 5 can produce 10-15kg more milk solids and will cycle 10 days earlier than cows at BCS 4, giving you a better chance of hitting your mating targets.
To learn more about feeding maize silage in late lactation, talk to your local Farm Source TSR or visit your local Farm Source store.