WET weather has lowered the food value of this year's maize crop, according to a national maize silage analysis provided by nutrition specialist Frank Wright Ltd.
Tests on the first 400 samples of mainly early-cut maize show that dry matter, protein ME and starch are all down on values recorded last year. Coupled with a significant drop in grass silage quality this year, dairy farmers are facing the prospect of extra supplementary feed costs.
It is calculated that for a dairy farmer feeding a 50-50 mix of maize and grass silage, feed costs on average will be £34 more per cow this winter to maintain production levels comparable to last year.
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