Maize silage helps drive consistency through winter

When pasture is variable, consistent feed becomes critical. Supplementing with maize silage can help maintain energy supply so cows reach calving at target BCS.

When we head into dry-off, the priority shifts to one thing: setting cows up to calve at target body condition score (BCS). The dry period is your best opportunity to correct deficits, protect animal health, and build the platform for a strong start next season.

Getting the dry period right comes down to planning early: knowing you’re starting BCS, confirming your calving targets, and matching feed supply to what dry cows can realistically eat. It’s also about discipline – consistent allocation, smart grouping, and regular checks so cows are trending the right way well before calving.

Many farmers are using maize silage as a cornerstone of their dry-cow ration. When pasture quality is variable, maize brings consistency which supports steady intakes and a reliable energy supply, which are critical if you’re trying to put BCS on cows (or prevent further loss) through winter.

With bought-in feed costs and availability often changing quickly, the advantage of maize silage is confidence: you can plan around known quality and known volume. That makes it easier to set a ration that meets requirements, which is exactly what dry cows need if they are to hit BCS targets.

Quality matters

Well managed maize silage with good starch levels, high digestibility and no heating delivers more usable energy per kilogram of dry matter, helping you get more out of every mouthful – especially important when pasture is not meeting dry-cow needs. drying off, and the month before calving).

The goal through the dry period is simple: cows calve in the right condition, not playing catch-up after calving. That requires clear targets, a ration that meets their needs, and consistent execution day after day.

At calving, target BCS 5.0 for mature cows and BCS 5.5 for first and second calvers. Don’t rely solely on the herd average, identify cows below target early and, where practical, manage them separately so allocation matches need. As a guide, aim for fewer than 15% of the herd to be below target by calving.

Dry period length should be set by two things: (1) how much BCS each cow needs to gain to reach calving targets, and (2) the amount and type of feed available to do it. Work backward from the planned start of calving, then set drying-off dates that give you enough time, especially for lighter cows.

As a rule of thumb, cows can at best, gain around 0.5 BCS per month under good management. Also factor in that there are typically 30–40 days across the dry period where little to no BCS gain occurs (often the first 10 days after drying off, and the month before calving). That means the ‘effective’ window to put condition on can be shorter than it looks on the calendar.

If pasture alone won’t meet requirements, maize silage can help close the gap without overcomplicating the system. The practical focus is on consistency: keep the ration similar day-to-day, manage the silage face to protect quality, and allocate to ensure all cows get access. Check progress regularly (BCS scoring and visual assessment) and adjust early if cows are not trending toward target – small changes made in June and July are far easier than big corrections in the weeks before calving.

To see where maize silage can add the most value in your farm system, talk to your Farm Source TSR or contact one of our Pioneer Farm Systems Specialists, Matt Dalley, Wade Bell, or Grant Matthews at pioneer.co.nz.
 

Article supplied by Pioneer