MAINTAIN PERFORMANCE WITH VARIABLE FIRST CUT SILAGES THIS AUTUMN Silage analysis from across the country has shown a wide variation in nutrient analysis, partly due to the challenging weather conditions impacting cutting times between farms. There have been some early first-cut silages, and then later first-cuts, which are quite different from each other in protein, energy and digestibility, according to Trouw GB’s silage-watch. This may pose feeding challenges to farmers moving between cuts this autumn, as well as large variability between farms, and consideration needs to be given to the balance of the ration to optimise rumen health and maintain performance.
MAINTAIN PERFORMANCE WITH VARIABLE FIRST CUT SILAGES THIS AUTUMN
Below are tables showing 2021 first-cut average analysis, compared to last year’s 2020 first-cut, from Trouw Nutrition GB: Nutrients
Units
2021 Average First-Cut
2020 Average First-Cut
Dry Matter
%
33.5
36.5
Crude Protein
% DM
13.2
14.3
D Value
%
71.5
70
ME
MJ/kg DM
11.4
11.3
NDF
% DM
43.4
44.8
Lignin
g/kg DM
36.6
35
Ash
% DM
7.8
8.5
Sugars
% DM
3.1
3.4
Lactic Acid
g/kg DM
74.4
63
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