This year’s first cut silage samples show a huge difference in the quality of silages harvested early (March, April and May) and those harvested later (June onwards) due to weather conditions.
This is according to analysis by ForFarmers of over 800 of this year’s first cut silage samples.
ForFarmers product manager, Bruce Forshaw, said early first cuts are “struggling for energy levels” compared to silages from 2022 and 2023, and have lowers Rapidly Fermentable Carbohydrates.
“Acid loads are also lower reflecting a high fibre content, which means you might not need to be feeding your usual levels of straw in the diet,” he said.
Analysis for early first cuts shows MELK values, which is the energy actually available for milk production, are not as high as in the last few years.
“The really poor weather we had in the spring meant some farmers were unable to take their first cut of silage until June, or even later, and this is reflected in the analysis of this silage,” Forshaw said.
“Energy levels are low and fibre levels are high, reflecting the older, stemier plants that were harvested.
“At 941, 2024 first cut MELK values are considerably lower than the average in 2022 (956) and 2023 (966). This drop will convert to real loss of milk across the winter.”
Supplementation
Forshaw said farmers need to “think carefully” about the right supplementation to support this poor quality first cut silage.
“Second cut silage analysis is returning similar to those in 2022 but it still not going to replace what has been lost from first cuts,” he said.
One of the things the data clearly shows this year is the positive impact silage additive has on quality, particularly on second cuts.
Silages that have been produced using additives have higher protein levels, D values and lactic acid.
“When you look at MELK for silages with additive the average is 963, while the average without additive is 930,” Forshaw said.
“For an average 200 cow herd that equates to roughly £13,000 extra milk production from the same amount of silage.”
