Maize going through cows

[Bramble]

Got quite a lot of whole kernels going straight through the cows. Looking in the clamp quite a few of them seem not to have been split by the cracker on the forager.

First time I’ve grown maize so any suggestions welcome. Can it milled/processed out of the clamp to try and smash it up?

 

[Homesy]

If they are not cracked you will struggle to get cows to digest the grains. Feed grade urea (RDP), molasses and yeasts help.
Get your contractor out to have a look and demand a substantial discount. You could process it with a forage harvester fitted with a corn cracker but it would need doing every day else it would go off.

 

[Blue.]

How long have they been on the maize?
Can take a while for the gut to adjust.

 

[Bramble]

Been on the maize for about a month now. Nutritionist has already put us on urea (100g/head) and yeast. Some piles of muck seem worse than others, although all the calving cows get the same ration as the milking herd (less minerals) for 2-3 weeks before they calve.

The nutritionist has just been examining a muck sample and says nearly all the kernels have got splits in them, just not very deep. Has taken some more feed samples as well to test and look at, but is also suggesting feeding alpha amylase as well to try and help???

 

[Blue.]

How are they performing milk wise?

 

[frederick]

Dont spend anymore money chasing a few grains. Would definitely question the yeast as well.

Filter a dung and weigh grains that look uncracked in terms of overall diet I expect it will be insignificant.

After christmas it will get better simply because the digestability will improve in the clamp.

 

[Bramble]

The more %maize we put in the diet the more the milk drops!!! Not sure it’s supposed to do that??

Currently feeding 20kg/head freshweight, up from 15kg last week. Probably got 600-700t of the stuff to get through. Needs to be used as all the 2nd cut is behind it

 

[Cowcorn]

The more %maize we put in the diet the more the milk drops!!! Not sure it’s supposed to do that??

Currently feeding 20kg/head freshweight, up from 15kg last week. Probably got 600-700t of the stuff to get through. Needs to be used as all the 2nd cut is behind it

How much soya are you feeding with the maize ? Yield and solids should rise on a maize diet . Something is up if its going the other way. Nothing you can do with shallow cracked grains except change your contractor for next year. Sometimes maize thats cut green before the tip of frost to dry it down can be unpalatable and reduced intake can cause a drop in yield

 

[pappuller]

Got quite a lot of whole kernels going straight through the cows. Looking in the clamp quite a few of them seem not to have been split by the cracker on the forager.

First time I’ve grown maize so any suggestions welcome. Can it milled/processed out of the clamp to try and smash it up?

whats the dm and starch of the maize ?

 

[pappuller]

Got quite a lot of whole kernels going straight through the cows. Looking in the clamp quite a few of them seem not to have been split by the cracker on the forager.

First time I’ve grown maize so any suggestions welcome. Can it milled/processed out of the clamp to try and smash it up?

what else are you feeding forage wise ??

 

[pappuller]

Got quite a lot of whole kernels going straight through the cows. Looking in the clamp quite a few of them seem not to have been split by the cracker on the forager.

First time I’ve grown maize so any suggestions welcome. Can it milled/processed out of the clamp to try and smash it up?

what concentrate are you feeding and how much

 

[Bramble]

6kg Brewers grains, 30kg grass silage, urea, minerals, to give 24 litres in theory. Plus 7kg 18% cake in parlour for 40 litres.

Grass silage 23%DM, 70 D value, 17% protein
Maize 29% DM, starch 30 (might need to check that), 73 D value

I think both are drier so are being tested again, plus the grass silage protein is suspiciously high, would normally be around 14%

Milk urea between 280-320

 

[Cowcorn]

6kg Brewers grains, 30kg grass silage, urea, minerals, to give 24 litres in theory. Plus 7kg 18% cake in parlour for 40 litres.

Grass silage 23%DM, 70 D value, 17% protein
Maize 29% DM, starch 30 (might need to check that), 73 D value

I think both are drier so are being tested again, plus the grass silage protein is suspiciously high, would normally be around 14%

Milk urea between 280-320

Quite a complex diet bramble!!! I would just feed a fifty fifty grass and maize as forage and 24% cake or hi soya blend in the parlour. Brewers grains are great if your silage is poor or youre short of it .

 

[pappuller]

Quite a complex diet bramble!!! I would just feed a fifty fifty grass and maize as forage and 24% cake or hi soya blend in the parlour. Brewers grains are great if your silage is poor or youre short of it .

Grains will drive forage intakes, we put 8kg grains in with 7kg DM of maize and grass silage

 

[pappuller]

6kg Brewers grains, 30kg grass silage, urea, minerals, to give 24 litres in theory. Plus 7kg 18% cake in parlour for 40 litres.

Grass silage 23%DM, 70 D value, 17% protein
Maize 29% DM, starch 30 (might need to check that), 73 D value

I think both are drier so are being tested again, plus the grass silage protein is suspiciously high, would normally be around 14%

Milk urea between 280-320

How are your cows milking ?

 

[pappuller]

6kg Brewers grains, 30kg grass silage, urea, minerals, to give 24 litres in theory. Plus 7kg 18% cake in parlour for 40 litres.

Grass silage 23%DM, 70 D value, 17% protein
Maize 29% DM, starch 30 (might need to check that), 73 D value

I think both are drier so are being tested again, plus the grass silage protein is suspiciously high, would normally be around 14%

Milk urea between 280-320

How does the dung look?

 

[Agrifool]

your protein might not be high enough in the overall ration to break down grains, buy a half ton bag of soya and add a little extra everyday into the TMR and see if that helps. then get a higher protein blend/nut to match new protein levels. Another suggestion is dont feed it for a few months. The juices in the clamp will help break it down more and soften the grain. In fact its not uncommon for some farmers to now leave the clamp for 6-12 months before opening. Apparently the structure breaks down more and more available feed value can be obtained from the same clamp.

 

[Bramble]

Sept calved 35 litres average
Oct calved 38 litres average
Heifers about 6-8 litres behind
Staler cows anything from 15-30 litres

Muck looks fairly firm, nothing loose anywhere

 

[Bramble]

DUP is a bit borderline, so maybe soya is something to try.

Have used BG to extend grass silage stocks and improve intakes in the past before growing maize. A couple of people have said maize digestibility should improve over time

 

[pappuller]

Sept calved 35 litres average
Oct calved 38 litres average
Heifers about 6-8 litres behind
Staler cows anything from 15-30 litres

Muck looks fairly firm, nothing loose anywhere

Autumn calving or Ayr ? Your only feeding 7kg conc for 40l cows ? If you put your grains @25%dm those cows are only getting between 8.5/9 kg of conc or equivalent so that gives a feed rate if between .2 and .25kg/l which isn't shabby at all. If the cows are milking ok and condition and fertility are ok I would leave things as they are, I don't think you'll be too far wrong on the protein with feeding 100grms urea. We are only feeding 50grms urea with a 14%grass silage and maize,grains, 16% dairy nut and a couple kilos blend giving a 16.2%protein base ration.