New York Dairy Finds Careful Hybrid Selection
Boosts Milk Production At No Extra Cost'
What’s it worth to plant corn
hybrids scientifically screened for
their feeding qualities?
Enough to cover the cost of all
crop inputs for a year, according to
the owners of a 1,000-cow New York
dairy.
“We figure the hybrids we plant
for corn silage increase milk produc
tion by 4 lbs. or more per day,” says
Weir Stewart (left in photo), a partn
er at Odyssey Farm near Copake
Falls, N.Y. “In our operation, that’s
enough to cover the entire cost of
fertilizer, seed and planting for one
year.
“We discovered what differences
in corn-silage feeding quality could
mean to our bottom line in 1991,”
continues Stewart. “That’s when we
learned that Cargill Hybrid Seeds
had done considerable research to
screen hybrids for feeding quality. So
we tried some.
“There was a definite drop in pro
duction when we ran out of the
silage from the Cargill hybrids and
began feeding other silage. We also
discovered that we could plant
hybrids that were highly digestible
and also yielded excellent tonnage
per acre.
“We’ve learned that a quality for
age program is extremely important
to maximize milk production,” says
Stewart. “It’s very difficult to over
come poor forage quality, even when
you add the expense of a good sup
plementation program.”
Since 1987, many dairy and beef
producers who planted Cargill
hybrids have related similar experi
ences to those at Odyssey Farm.
That’s the year Cargill Hybrid Seeds
began selecting and screening
hybrids through an extensive evalua
tion program for corn silage.
QO/ CASH DISCOUNT
9/0 ENDS DEC. 15,1995
BIG BUCK CONTEST
* Order Seed By Opening Day Of
Buck Season
■ Shoot The Largest Buck (Field
Dressed Weight)
* Win Your Seed Order Free
(SO Units Msximum)
Selected for Profit
Potential
Hybrids are selected on the
basis of their potential to
increase the profitability of /-
livestock operations by /*
enhancing forage yield, reduc- m
ing feed supplement costs and
improving animal performance.
Hybrid offerings cover 80- to 120-
day maturities.
The research shows repeatable
differences in important quality char
acteristics such as whole plant digest
ibility, neutral detergent fiber, fiber
digestibility, non-fiber carbohydrates
and crude protein.
Odyssey Farm managers found
the research especially important to
their operation since they prefer
feeding rations with higher amounts
of corn silage than haylage. Corn
silage is easier to manage from both a
crop-production and feeding stand
point, they say.
“It’s difficult to harvest alfalfa
with consistently high feed value in
. an operation this large,” says partner
Bob Kimmel (right in photo). “Alfal
fa must be cut and harvested several
CENTRAL & WESTERN
PENNSYLVANIA and
MARYLAND DEALERS
Andgrow Fertilizer Rum Judy
Ea*t Berlin, Qattyaburg, Spring Mill*, PA
Carllil*, Seven Valley* and . . .
Culbeit*on, PA J °" n Klrk
_ Warfordtburg, PA
Agronomy Csnttr * uri . r
Thompwntown, PA WOOdy Kyptr
HuntlnQdon, PA
Woyno LaMont
_ *' Mvwtlek). PA
Forman Landis
Bollovlllo Flour Mill
Belleville. PA L *' Mnan
_ Cbambertburg, PA
Jim Boyar _.... ..
Upperco, MO P Ju*m. ?A
McQoo A Smith
Spring Run, PA
Sam Muomf
SNppemburg, PA
EnonvuS? Rolfsnldor VM Supply
Kaymar, MO
Kon DoKeh .....
BoOng Spring*. .PA
Fabln Bro. Fmm. Equlpmant
iiaaww, rn
■ l « OOnHimi “
Shads Oap Farm Supply
Shade Oap, PA
J^T°PA y • Tom Stouffor
. ' * Maroanburg, PA
Tharpo A Qroon Mill
„ ' CNmnvWa. MD
Qaor Farm A Homo .. . .
„ sa^s
“"’"S'K'"'' WlndrMg* Parmt
_ Germantown, MO
Hlnloh Food A Farm .......
Suoolv Aoitn zocnor
cTTui IV, JaOaraon. MO
Bruno Holnaldor Allan WHllama
i PA uiwmuurg
Choator Horst
QraaneaaH*. PA oenevwe, ™
times a year
and it can be difficult to harvest at
the best time for maximum quality.
Corn silage needs to be harvested
only once during the growing season
so total labor and equipment costs
are less. The time available to harvest
quality corn silage is much wider
than the time available to harvest
haylage.
“Good-quality forage is the basic
building block of any ration,” he
adds. “I’ve been involved in the dairy
business for more than 25 years, and
I’ve learned that cows are more
healthy and give more milk when
they eat more. Those that are eating
the most dry matter are usually the
healthiest. A highly digestible ration
can affect milk production, improve
health and improve breed-back and
conception rates.”
EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA
And NEW JERSEY
DEALERS:
Adorno Bros.
Shoarnaliersvllla, PA
Anthony's Food Mill
Strauulown, PA
Honry Barloy
LancaMar, PA
Homor Ball
Lebanon, PA
Braund Valloy Farms
Troy, PA
M. Brubakor
Mount Joy, PA
Carglll/Mariotta
Marietta, PA
Ronald Carty
Cotumbu*. NJ
Donnls Cunfor
LaNgMon, PA
FrodFroy
OuanyvWe, PA
-J. Martin Qrofl
EphratfcPA
J affray Hart
FotkivMa, PA
Frank Inolnga
LaoyvMa. PA
Klntnor Milling Co. Inc.
BMonboaa, PA
LAKMHts.Inc.
Benton, pa
Paul Klino
LWtz.PA
Robort Kroldor
OuarryviHa, PA
Locust Brook Ag. Cantor
Manheim. PA
William MacCauloy
Ray Mattor
MWenburg, PA
Millar Equlpmant Co.
BMMtllviNt, PA
OavMNolt
AnmOe. PA
Melvin Holt
Wrftlanrt BA
vS9llsnQi
NoH'o Mill Inc.
um BA
vWiiSfi
Robort Pfloogor
MMon, PA
Reynold Rolnort
pa
Wllmor Rush
—*.. i. BA
MoMn Shortzor
MMaravMe, PA
„ Choator Solty’a
Spring C«y, PA
For Information, contact
your local Cargill
Hybrid Saadadaalar
UVDDin o'®* lll - 800 * 34 -® 941 -
nlDnlU 717-731-9899
\[[||\ 3536 Countryside Urns
ULUIU Camp Hill, Pa. 17011
Atglan, PA