Lecture 11 Alternative Forage Flashcards
Whats the cost of production of forages, based on specific yields and high quality?
Maize Silage €/t utilised DM 2023
Maize Silage €/t utilizable DM 2024
2023- €187
2024- €142
This is a reference yield
Whats the difference between maize crop and whole crop silage?
Maize- Maize silage
Whole crop- Any cereal silage
Whats the difference between fodder beet and the rest of the feedstuff?
Requires specialised equipment- a lot of specific machinery that you need.
Whats the DM yield from maize?
30DM
Whats the greatest driver of feed costs?
Yield variability is the greatest driver of feed crop cost
Driving costs of alternative forages:(4)
- Yield variability is the greatest driver of feed crop cost
- Soil nutrient status and testing is important
- Plastic important – WCM quality
- There are a range of winter feeds competitive on a DM
basis
What are the range of factors affect the choice of feed crops
(4)
– Cost
– Farm system
– Farm layout
– Available facilities and labour
How do we grow maize in ireland?
Under plastic wrap
84 growing degree days per leaf of maize,
but maize under plastic was given an extra 12 days
Slide 7 Maize Structure
Parts of Maize crop:(5)
-Tassle
-Silk
-Ear
-Hust
-Brace Roots
Maize crop gives alot of biomass yielding crop
Massive crop for AD plant because is gives a huge biomass yield
What is the tassle?
the male part of the corn plant that contains the pollen. The
tassel is on top of the corn plant.
What is the silk ?
a hollow tube that comes from the female part (ovary) on the
ear. The silk grows outside of the husk until the pollen lands on the
silk and then moves down silk tube to fertilize the ovary to form the
seed. Each ear has one silk strand for each kernel on the ear
What is the ear?
the structure that contains the kernels that are forming after
fertilization. The female part of the corn plant.
What is the husk
leaf like structure that wraps around the ear for protection.
What is the Brace roots?
develop from aerial stem nodes and can remain aerial or
grow into the ground. Function of these roots is to brace the plant.
How much is distribution worldwide?
What countries is the main place for it?
Whats maize turned into?
- c.141 m ha world wide
- Produces 238 m tonnes
- Main food source of Mexico, Latin America,
Africa and Asia - Food, animal feed and alcohol production,
biofuels
Is maize generally sown to produce grain?
Maize is not generally sown to produce grain in
Ireland
What is forage maize?
Is it suited everywhere in ireland?
- Forage maize – whole crop is harvested and
converted to silage - Only suited to certain areas and sites of the country
What does maize silage production entail?
Whats its storage based on ?
Chopping and packing of the whole plant
Based on preservation under anerobic conditions from the growth of lactic acid bacteria which promots a natureal fermatation that lowers the PH to a level at which clostridial and most mould growth is inhibited
What conditions does maize like to grow in?
30 degrees celcius
Is Maize high labour crop?
No- Low labor input
List 9 advantages of Maize?
- Relatively easy, low labor input crop
- Effective break crop
- It spreads and reduces the work-load in spring
and autumn - It can be grown anywhere in the rotation
- Single harvest crop – fragmentation
- Use of organic fertilizers
- High yielding/ energy crop
- Increase forage intake
- Consistent quality
What are the challenges with Maize in ireland?
- Maize in the open is typically very variable from year to year
- Poor seed bed, laying of film, general agronomy practices lead to
poor crops - Trading between grower and livestock farmer
- Suitable varieties on NRL is limited – small market
- Herbicides limited – small market
- Majority is now grown with film which brings its own challenges with
regards to suitable varieties, herbicide etc
What are factors affecting maize production in Ireland? (10)
- Site
- Sowing date
- Variety
- Seeding rate
- Plastic cover
- Weed control
- Fertiliser
- Foliar disease
- Harvest date
If you have pig slurry….
You can make maize silage for pennies.
Maize , is it consistent through a silage pit?
Maize has a consistent quality throughout the silage pit, unlike grass silage.