Mycogen® brand Silage-Specific™ BMR (brown mid-rib) hybrids can increase dairy producers’ profits, especially during times of high grain prices. As grain prices increase, dairy producers face significant feed cost increases.
“The challenge this season for many dairy producers will be controlling feed costs without sacrificing milk production,” says Phil Krueger, Forage Nutrition Specialist, Mycogen Seeds. “Feeding more high-quality Silage-Specific BMR is the most efficient and safest way to build a ration, and it adds more value because producers can reduce grain bills.”

Dairy producers who feed their cows Silage-Specific BMR hybrids are generally able to feed 3 pounds less grain per cow per day because Silage-Specific BMR hybrids are more digestible and increase dry matter intake. This allows for lower grain feeding and improvements in rumen health, since higher-forage diets tend to be healthier. As a result, dairy producers can not only save money on purchased grain, approximately $0.08 per cow per day (when purchasing grain at $3.50 per bushel), but they also will see an increase in the return on investment (ROI) from seed by switching to Silage-Specific BMR.

By saving 3 pounds of grain corn per cow per day, producers will pay for the difference in the seed cost of Silage-Specific™ BMR versus other hybrids. The ROI ratio for Silage-Specific BMR goes up from 4:1 to almost 5:1 because producers can feed less grain and still achieve a higher milk response. Thus, producers can see an even larger ROI from Silage-Specific BMR as grain corn prices increase.

Sixteen university and independent scientific reports published since 1999 have proven Silage-Specific BMR hybrids can produce an average of 4.8 pounds more milk per cow per day than cows fed non-BMR hybrids.
“The milk response is well worth the higher up-front seed costs with producers seeing an ROI ratio approaching 5:1 and getting the additional benefits of a higher forage ration,” says Greg Cannon, Forage Marketing Specialist, Mycogen Seeds. “The bottom line is that feeding Mycogen brand Silage-Specific BMR hybrids when grain prices are high increases profitability two ways, through more milk and also through lower feed costs.”

Growers can visit www.Silage-Specific.com to view a side-by-side comparison of the returns for $2.00 corn and $3.50 corn. With the online ROI calculator, growers can also calculate the profit gained by feeding Silage-Specific™ BMR on their farm. In addition, real-world results are featured on the Web site, including video clips of success stories from fellow dairy producers who have seen first-hand the value of Silage-Specific BMR corn hybrids. Plus, several university and third-party reports that are available for review prove Silage-Specific BMR is a smart choice.

Additional information: http://www.seedquest.com/News/releases/2007/pdf/18042.pdf

Mycogen Seeds continues to be the industry leader in Silage-Specific corn hybrids and strives to provide dairy producers with the best technology available to continue providing profitable results. For more information on Mycogen brand Silage-Specific BMR hybrids, research trials and grower testimonials, visit www.Silage-Specific.com.
Mycogen Seeds is a retail seed company of Dow AgroSciences LLC and a developer and marketer of leading grain corn hybrids, the market leader in Silage-Specific™ corn hybrids and sunflower hybrids, as well as an industry leader in canola, alfalfa, soybeans and sorghum. For more information about Mycogen brand products, visit www.mycogen.com. 

®™Mycogen, the Mycogen Logo and Silage-Specific are trademarks of Mycogen Corporation.
©2007 Mycogen Seeds. Mycogen Seeds is an affiliate of Dow AgroSciences LLC.