Hybrid Selection Pays Dividends for New York Dairy Planting com hybrids that are scientifically screened for their feed ing qualities is proving to be extreme ly valuable for a 1,000-cow New York dairy. In fact, Odyssey Farm, Copake Falls, is saving enough to cover the cost of all crop inputs for a year. "We figure the hybrids we plant for com silage increase milk produc tion by 4 lbs. or more per day," says partner Weir Stewart (left in photo). "In our operation, that's enough to cover the entire cost of fertilizer, seed and planting for one year. "We discovered what differences in com-silage feeding quality could mean to our bottom line in 1991," continues Stewart. "That's when we learned that Cargill Hybrid Seeds has done considerable research screen hybrids for feeding quality. "There was a definite drop in production when we ran out of the silage from the Cargill hybrids and began feeding other silage. We also discovered that we could plant Cargill hybrids that were highly digestible and also yield ed 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 good supplementation." Selected for Profit Potential Hybrids are selected on the basis of their potential to increase the prof itability of livestock operations by enhancing forage yield, reducing feed supplement costs and improving ani mal performance. Hybrid offerings cover 80- to 120-day maturities. Odyssey Farm managers found the research especially important to their operation since they prefer feed ing rations with higher amounts of com silage than haylage. Com silage is easier to manage from both a crop production and feeding standpoint, 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). "Alfalfa must be cut and harvested several times a year and it can be difficult to harvest at the best time for maximum quality. Com silage needs to be har vested only once 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," Kimmel 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." FORAGE QUALITY PROGRAM Milk Production Increases W If milk production increases while herd size expands, that indi cates that the cows are probably being fed right. Young cows reach peak production faster and they maintain that peak longer. Lee Hoover, Jr., Boiling Springs, Pa., increased his herd's production and held solids and milkfat yields while expanding the herd from 40 to 65 milking cows. "High quality com silage plays a key role in our feeding pro gram," says Hoover. "It reduces feed costs and improves the cows' appetite." Hoover, now in his third year Hybrids Pack More Feed Valu Fred England knows the val ue of high-quality roughage as well as the importance of dry mat ter intake for efficient milk production. "High-quality corn silage can make a big difference in milk pro duction because it's a major eco nomical source of energy," says England, Williamsburg, Pa. "Good silage keeps the cows eating. Their intake level remains more consist ent to better satisfy their total nutrient needs." The 1993 and 1994 crop sea sons convinced England to pay more attention to mthe hybrids he planted (or silage. For several years he'd been interested in pro ducing silage higher in feed value and digestibility. Like so many other producers, he figured that com varieties that look good while they're growing and produce high grain yield could also yield high quality silage. England has found it very dif ficult to identify hybrids that pro- EIGHT BETTER growing com for silage recom mended by the Cargill Com Silage Menu, likes the fact that these hybrids are screened and selected through an extensive evaluation program. "I tried a couple of bags the first year," he recalls. "It worked so well that 1 planted more the next year. The cows really like the silage. Intake duce consistent high yields of grain with the right balance of stalk dry-down, ear moisture and total digestibility. Corn Silage Menu made sense when I first heard about it," he says. "I figured it was worth a try even though I was some what doubtful it would work." However, England discov ered that the Cargill hybrids rec ommended for silage proved to be much better than the others he's tried. "As soon as we started feed ing silage from the Cargill corn I knew we were on the right track," says England. "Cargill has taken the guesswork out of maxi mizing our corn silage feeding program." England, who milks 250 cows Al let gram c evenly ~4 ms 930 ac » of com iclude: 31 00 acres a leans ar ve been ing our 1 time/ the com tion is to Cargill' program.'
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