Whole crop for AD

[Warnesworth]

What do people think is the optimum growth stage for cutting cereals for wholecrop silage? Thinking of hybrid rye or triticale. I guess aiming for 30-32% DM.

 

[Turnip73]

Some *people will say leave until 38-42% *(advisors, consultants etc. !!!!!) DM for whole crop, longer you leave it more lignin produced and harder to digest, I reckon your bang on with DM 30-32%, should be still pretty green and you might have a little bit of effluent if conditions are against you but main thing is don't let it go too long, we did some whole crop for AD last year and the higher DM stuff was harder to handle when making the pit and didn't keep as well as the wetter stuff. Aim for just past milky and start of doughy but straw ripening will determine a lot, also your chop length needs to be short, shorter the better.

 

[The Son]

What sort of gas yields did you get out of it per tonne?

 

[thesilentone]

The Biomethane potential for Maize and Wholecrop Silage are similar, Maize is cheaper/ton to grow.