Use of maize silage to improve pasture persistence in dairy farm systems: a review

Abstract

Maize is a drought tolerant crop that produces high dry matter yields. Growing maize silage as part of a pasture renewal programme can help improve pasture persistence by reducing the level of weeds, insect pests and carryover ryegrass seed. Feeding maize silage to dairy cows results in pasture substitution. This decreases grazing pressure and can be used to manipulate farm pasture cover levels reducing overgrazing. The combination of maize silage and a well-designed stand-off pad with feeding bins allows farmers to keep cows off wet pastures reducing pugging damage and subsequent losses in pasture production without compromising milk production or animal welfare. Maize hybrid selection is critical to ensure timely regrassing. Crop simulation models such as CERES-maize may be useful to determine the best maize hybrid maturity x planting date combinations required to maximise silage yield and meet desired silage harvest and regrassing dates. Best-practice maize silage management including seed bed preparation, weed control and insecticide-treated maize seed will help farmers achieve high yields of silage and assist in the subsequent establishment of high yielding and persistent pastures. Keywords: pasture persistence, maize silage, feed pad