Where does corn fit into my forage production system? Jean Brisson. agr. R&D Valacta

Outline 1.Introduction 2.Interesting to grow corn? 3.Corn feeds 1.Corn silage 2.Earlage/Snaplage 3.Corn grain 4.Conclusions

INTRODUCTION

Corn market

Soybean meal market

Source: Lower price in fall?

Quebec corn market (2009 to 2013) Source:

Do you know your feed cost? Do you know your concentrate cost? – $/hl – $/kg quota – $/ton Do you know your milk to concentrate ratio? Do you know your cost of production of forage? Feed cost

Corn is demanding – Heat – Water – Competition – Soil pH – Nutrients If you don’t do everything right, it shows from the road… To grow corn

It is possible to grow corn where it was not possible years ago – Climate change – Corn genetic To grow corn

Yield is so important! – Ton per hectare Quality is so important! – ADF is key item to watch To grow corn

Do you measure yield on your farm? Pretty easy to figure out – Silage box holds 16 feet :1.7 ton dry matter 18 feet: 2.0 tons 24 feet: 2.6 tons To grow corn

Corn silage yield varies a lot

Corn feeds Corn grower can: Corn silage –Cut high or low Snaplage/Earlage Corn grain –High moisture –Dry

Part Average (D.M.) Grain 20-50% Stalk 17-40% Leaves 15-25% Cob 6-10% Part Average (D.M.) Grain 20-50% Stalk 17-40% Leaves 15-25% Cob 6-10% Corn plant composition

Corn silage plant composition Part of the plant % of whole plant % NDF Digest. NDF (%) Digest. dry matter (%) Tassel< Leave node Ear leave Leaves Ear Stalk Grain Mike Allen. 1995

Corn silage may fit Potentially high yield crop – According to La Financière Agricole: 4.8 to 16.6 t. dry matter /ha as compared with grass (1.6 to 6.7t./ha) Usually palatable feed Conservation is good most of the time Potentially high energy forage Harvesting is easier than grass silage Can be harvested 24 hours per day if needed Requires a lot of Nitrogen (manure user)

Corn silage has its limitation Low protein Low mineral Require more storage capacity

Corn silage isn’t a magic feed Decades ago, corn silage has been blamed for health problem like: – Fat cow syndrome – Ketosis – DA’s – Low production Corn silage based ration along with average quality grass silage requires quite a bit of protein supplementation to cover the needs Ration has to be well balanced to deliver good performances

Forage base program in Valacta herds (2012)

Without corn silageWith corn silage Number of herds Number of cows4463 Production Milk (kg/cow/yr) Butterfat (%) Protein (%) SCC('000 cell/ml) Reproduction Calving interval Breeding per cow Feed cost Forage & conc. ($/hl) Conc. ($/hl) Herd performance with and without corn silage Source : Valacta. August 2008

MORE MILK WITH CORN SILAGE

More milk with corn silage but not always!

CORN SILAGE

Feed cost with and without corn silage depends on corn and soybean meal market - 71 $+ 37 $ - 48 $ - 70 $

Only good corn silage will deliver good performances What are the features of good corn silage?

Composition varies quite a bit Source: Valacta lab

Composition varies quite a bit Source: Valacta lab

HybridYield (t. d.m./ha) NDFd (%) Starch (%) Milk (kg/ton) Milk (kg/ha) A B C D E F G Average Pick the right hybrid for your needs Source: Rankin. M., University of Wisconsin

Harvested at the right moisture < 28 %28 – 32 %32 – 36 %36 – 40 %> 40 % Number of trials Dry matter intake (kg/d) Production (kg/d) % Fat corrected milk (kg/d) Butterfat (%) Protein (%) Total tract starch digestibility (%) Source: Shaver, Tri-State Nutrition Conference, 2012

Harvest at the right stage Source: Leduc, Pioneer, 2009 Relationship between grain maturity and whole plant moisture ( )

Kernel processor 1 – 3 mm4 – 8 mm Number of trials437 Dry matter intake (kg/day) Production (kg/day) % fat corrected milk (kg/day) Butterfat ( % ) Protein ( % ) Starch digestibility ( % ) Source: Shaver, Tri-State Nutrition Conference, 2012

Source: Kung Kernel processor

Source: Kung Kernel processor

Corn silage aerobic stability at feedout Ask Robert, he is the expert

Corn silage starch digestibility increases over time of storage Source: Mahanna. 2009

Corn products Snaplage/Earlage Corn grain

Corn producer

Corn products

Starch site of digestion Starch may be digested : – In the rumen (80 % efficiency) – In the small intestine (97 % efficiency) – In the large intestine(44 % efficiency) What is the best ? – There is a limited potential for digestion in small intestine – Starch digestion is pretty limited in large intestine… Source : Beauchemin, 2006

Corn presentation effect on starch digestibility Source : Firkins Corn product Rumen starch digestibility Total tract starch digestibility Craked corn4585 Ground corn5291 Flaked corn5794 High moisture rolled corn8794

Equipment Volume (t) Cost ($) Shrinkage and fermentation loss (%) Cost ($/ton fed) Dry grain bin Air tight silo and unloader Roller mill/ Hammer mill Storage and processing cost Source: Dry grain. agdex 732/821b. juillet Référence Économiques. CRAAQ High-moisture grain. agdex 732/821F. juillet Référence Économiques. CRAAQ Grain bin. agdex 732/110. janvier Référence Économiques. CRAAQ

Interest cost on inventories FeedVolume Average cost ($/ton) Usage (t/week) Short term interest ($/ t.) Corn Corn Protein supplément Protein supplément

Where does corn fit? Thank you!