Des Moines, Iowa
September 8, 2008
Higher feed input costs are
challenging livestock producers to maximize the efficiency of
their feedstock supplies. Producers can reap economic benefits
by evaluating corn maturity prior to chopping, say livestock
nutrition experts from Pioneer
Hi-Bred, a DuPont business.
Harvest maturity has a dramatic impact on the nutritional value
of corn silage. Corn silage, harvested at a later date, shows
increased starch value. Pioneer experts suggest growers factor
in the length of time to harvest the crop but aim for an average
dry matter range of 35 percent to 38 percent.
"With the change in the price of feed, growers continuously are
looking for ways to shave feed costs," says Dr. Bill Mahanna,
global nutritional sciences manager for Pioneer. "Growers have
more options now with the latest corn hybrids containing
technology traits that allow for much healthier plants later in
the fall. They can wait until the corn is a bit more mature to
capture more starch without significantly loosing fiber
digestibility."
Growers should monitor the moisture of the entire plant to
determine the chopping time frame, recognizing that kernels will
be maturing while the corn plant remains green and healthy.
If corn is still actively photosynthesizing, it is not unusual
for the corn to lay down 0.5 to 1.0 points of starch per day
until the kernel reaches physiological maturity (black layer).
Pioneer sales professionals are partnering with silage producers
not only to determine ideal harvest moisture but also whether to
high-chop to improve fiber digestibility and how to monitor if
kernel processing is adequate on the silage as it arrives at the
storage structure.
Also top of mind for growers is both preserving and even
enhancing silage quality.
"The goal is to harvest, preserve and feed as many of the
nutrients produced in the field as possible," says Mahanna.
"Inoculants are a valuable tool for achieving this goal, and the
best performing inoculants work on both 'front-end' fermentation
as well as preventing heating during 'back-end' feedout.
"Pioneer products are unique because of the research effort to
isolate crop-specific bacterial strains to enhance the feeding
value of high-moisture corn, corn, silage and grass silages
rather than an omnibus product intended for all crops," says
Mahanna.
Pioneer products contain proprietary strains of naturally
occurring lactic acid bacteria such as Lactobacillus buchneri,
Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus casei and Enterococcus
faecium. L. buchneri promotes aerobic stability of the silage
and keeps forage fresher for a longer period of time. The net
result is that feed inoculated with L. buchneri, such as
Pioneer® brand 11C33 or 11B91, inhibit yeast growth which can
lead to excessive heating and nutrient loss often seen at
feedout in untreated silages.
"It's now possible not only to preserve forage put into the
silo, but also to make what comes out of the silo better than
the day it was harvested," says Dr. William Rutherford, senior
research manager for Pioneer forage additives.
Pioneer's newest forage additive, 11CFT, has shown a significant
improvement in fiber (NDF) digestibility in extensive laboratory
and on-farm testing. Like other Pioneer inoculants containing L.
buchneri, 11CFT improves stability and bunklife from the
production of unique silage volatile fatty acid profiles that
inhibit yeast and aerobic bacterial populations. However, 11CFT
also contains a unique strain of L. buchneri that is different
from other Pioneer bacterial genetics. This particular strain
offers growers increased fiber digestibility in corn silage as
proven in two university silage studies reported at the 2008
American Dairy Science meetings.
Pioneer has the largest collection of lactic acid bacteria
genetics in the industry. Extensive research, combined with
proprietary bacteria, is what makes Pioneer inoculants important
management tools in aiding and improving the nutritional value
of silages.
Nutrition is important at Pioneer. Having a dedicated Livestock
Nutrition Center, supportive labs throughout the world and more
than 20 doctorate-level nutrition researchers and field
technical support on staff allows Pioneer sales professionals
the ability to deliver both products and cutting-edge management
advice.
For more information on Pioneer hybrids, inoculants or silage
harvest tips, contact your local Pioneer sales professional or
visit www.pioneer.com.
Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, is the world's leading
source of customized solutions for farmers, livestock producers
and grain and oilseed processors. With headquarters in Des
Moines, Iowa, Pioneer provides access to advanced plant genetics
in nearly 70 countries.
DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded
in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable
solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for
people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont
offers a wide range of innovative products and services for
markets including agriculture and food; building and
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