Economic Benefits of Feeding Maize
		100% Grass Silage	75% Maize Silage Diet
Cost £/t DM Silages	£/t DM	£80t	£70t
Maize DM at Harvest		29%	23%	29%	30%	39%
Starch Content		1%	11%	27%	31%	35%
Cake Fed	£135t	10	10	10	10	10
Forage Drymatter Intake		9.2	10.9	13.3	13.1	12.8
% Forage In Diet		51%	55%	60%	60%	59%
Milk Yield		28.1	29.4	32.7	33	30.8
Fat Kg           Lease	3.0ppl	1.27	1.35	1.42	1.39	1.38
%  pp%	1.80	4.52	4.59	4.34	4.21	4.48
Protein		0.86	0.95	1.06	1.05	0.98
% pp%	3.50	3.06	3.23	3.24	3.18	3.18
*Fed Conversion Efficiency		8.45	8.57	8.91	8.98	9.15
		Best				Worst
**Economic Efficiency
Benefit per cow per day	ppc		41	86	79	54
20 week benefit	£		57	120	111	76
				Best
*Fed Conversion Efficiency kg DM Diet per KG Fat & Protein
** Economic Efficiency  = Value of Milk less total diet cost + lease charge
Conclusions
Compared to a 29% DM Italian silage at 14% CP, maize can deliver an
extra 45% additional FORAGE  Intake
A 25-30% Starch crop at 28-33% Dry Matter content will give the best £  performance
Below 28% DM at low starch or above35% DM at high starch should be avoided
Crops around 30% DM are likely to deliver a minimum 80p per cow per day PROFIT vs. all grass
Aim for 1/4-1/2 Milk Line at 28-33% DM
A 28-30% DM crop will store without additive during the summer.
Source MDC Fact Sheet 37 - CEDAR 96/97