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Gloucester Seeds Direct - Tel: 01452 723 727

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MAIZE

Maize is now a well-established forage crop, particularly in the south and midland areas. Maize silage with high starch content is the ideal compliment to grass silage.

FEED QUALITY

Maize has a consistently higher energy, higher starch and lower protein content than grass silage. Grass silage is high in protein and low in starch digestibilities, so they make the perfect partners in a ration.
The higher energy content is due to the fact that the crop can contain up to 50% as grain and in compact type hybrids this can be higher.
As the crop matures, sugar in the stem is converted to starch in he cob and therefore there is an increase in dry matter content. There are different types of starch, slow and fast. Transformation of the starch type depends on the kernel type (from hard to soft endosperm). Slower degrading starch will allow better intestinal utilisation and better rumen function.

HIGH YIELD POTENTIAL

Dry matter yield

The aim is to grow the optimum level of yield on any given site. Maximising yield to the full potential will ultimately reduce the cost of production.

Grain yield

The main components of the plant are the cob, leaves and stalk. The cob and kernels are by far the most digestive part of the plant. A high proportion of grain yield is important to produce energy and higher starch percentage.

MAIZE COMPONENTS AND THEIR DIGESTIBILTY

	% of PLANT	DIGESTIBILITY	SITE OF DIGESTION
KERNELS	45	95 - 100	RUMEN + INTESTINE
STALKS	23	30 - 60	RUMEN
LEAVES	22	40 - 80	RUMEN
HUSK + COBS	10	30 - 70	RUMEN
TOTALS	100	65 - 80

VARIETY SELECTION

It is important that a variety can be grown year after year on different sites and still produce a constantly valuable crop.
After considering all the factors in choosing a maize variety, the following factors have been selected.

• Favourable sites       
• Marginal sites           
• High yielding              
• Excellent feed value  
• Grain maize
• Heavy / light soils
• Cold, wet sites
• North facing sites
• Altitude
• Sowing / harvesting dates

Variety choice is a combination of all these factors, not just one element,
which is why the following varieties have been selected for our portfolio

EARLINESS OF MATURITY

This will depend on site and utilisation. Generally earlier maturing varieties are lower yielding and very high yielding varieties are later to mature with a tendency to be lower in dry matter. Modern breeding is now very close to offering a combination of the two  - high yields with early maturity.
Dry matter content - Optimum range 28 – 32%

Above 35% dry matter, silage making is difficult and consolidation can be a problem leading to a risk of secondary fermentation. Animal intakes are likely to fall. Below 25% dry matter, too much effluent is produced.

GOOD EARLY VIGOUR

This relates to plant vigour after emergence. In cold seasons on heavy land or exposed sites low vigour can reduce overall plant survival and therefore affect yield.
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RESISTANCE TO LODGING

There are two types of lodging: root lodging and brackling. Root lodging is where the stem lodges close to the ground around the root area. Brackling is where the stem breaks above ground, normally 30 – 50% up the stem.

Root lodging is more likely to happen in dense crops, so choosing a variety that is stiff and stands well can give you the chance to have a dense crop without the risk of lodging.

DISEASE RESISTANCE

Disease resistance against the following four main diseases is important in the UK.

• SMUT (ustilago Maydis)
  This fungus often appears in hot dry years and is characteristic by irregular shaped puffy balls. This disease rarely affects yield or feeding value of the silage and does not present a health hazard to livestock.

• EYE SPOT (Kabatiella Zeae)
  This disease may be carried over in stubbles from the previous years maize crop.

• RUST (Puccinia Sorghi)
  Although sometimes seen in the UK, normally at the end of season, rust is not a major threat.

• STALK ROT (Fusarium spp)
  This may occur at the final crop stage, especially if harvesting at 30% + dry matter content.

CHOICE OF MAIZE VARIETY

Gloucester Seeds Direct  have extensive contacts with the major maize breeders and suppliers in the UK.

It is important to choose the best variety to suit your own particular location, soil type and earliness requirements. We are able to offer you a wide portfolio of popular varieties as:-

GRADE	VARIETIES
Extremely early 9 - 11	Camelot, Goldprince, Pride, Scimitar
Very early 8/7	Articat, Blixxem, Cixxom,  Es-regain, Goldcob, Hurrikan, Ohio, Passat, Surprise
Early 7	Anjou 209, Cornstar, Goldsile, Golooli, LG3193
Medium 5/6	Fjord, Gazelle, Gigant, Goldion, LG 2195, LG3214

 

DRILLING RATES

The majority of the above maize varieties are packed in 50,000 seeds per bag, (some are 45,000 seeds/bag) Treatment dressings are generally Thiram and Mesural but some varieties contain other dressings.

For drilling rates, consult the breeders recommendation data but generally the following is a good guide.

SITE	DETAILS, SOIL AND ALTITUDE	DRILLING RATE/ACRE
Good	0 – 100ft South facing	45,000
Medium	100 –200 ft medium soils	42,000
Less favoured	Over 200ft heavy soils, north facing	40,000
Grain production	0 –100 ft good/medium soils, sunny aspect	38,000

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