First cut of the year is power feed

8 July 2022 - Livestock

The results of more than 1000 spring silages, in the Netherlands, display this year very high sugar content levels (average 129 g/kg). The high feed value is also remarkable, with an average “Feed Unit Milk” (Dutch NEL system) of 984, due to the high digestibility of the crop, among other factors. This results in the first cut looking more like concentrated feed than roughage.

Due to the relatively cool but sunny weather in April and early May, we already saw (extremely) high sugar levels in fresh grass this spring. We are now also seeing this trend in the first spring silages of this year, which were carried out mainly in the first 2 weeks of May. Due to the high residual sugar levels, there is an increased risk of overheating. When oxygen enters feed during ensiling, sugar can act as a food source for yeasts and molds.

The grass was generally cut fairly young, as protein levels were not as high partly due to the relatively cool weather and grass growth also was not high, due to the relatively dry period,. As a result, the digestibility and feed value of the first cut was considerably higher than in other years. This is further reflected in a lower share of cell walls, with an average NDF content of 427 g/kg, compared to the long-term average of 473 g/kg. NDF digestibility is also higher than the long-term average, at 77.4% vs. 74.0% respectively. The silage is generally well preserved with an average dry matter content of 42.6% and a pH value of 4.8.

Sufficient structure

Due to the combination of high digestibility and sugars and a lower proportion of cell walls, it is important to ensure that there is sufficient structure in the yield. Sufficient structure in the yield prevents rumen acidification and ensures that the high feed value of the first cut can also be optimally utilized.