Harvesting Maize & Cereal Silage

John Austin Ltd is equipped with four John Deere Forage Harvesters and a vast range of Kemper attachments from 8 rows to 12 for maize silage.

Maize Silage Harvesting

Harvesting and processing your Maize Silage is the key factor in ensuring you get the most out of your Maize. Kernels need to be cracked or smashed to ensure your stock are able to breakdown and utilise them efficiently.

Our John Deere Self Propelled Forage Harvesters are equipped with kernel processors that are able to smash even the hardest kernel into pieces. The processor also helps break down the maize stalk, ensuring that the ensilaging process can occur quickly. With the use of the John Deere GPS systems, we are able to tell you instantly what the moisture and yield of your crop is. The machine can also automatically adjust its cut length (IVLOC – Infinitely Variable Length of Cut) on the run and is adjusted to match the moisture of your crop.

“The forager is able to produce a detailed yield map of your crop paddocks, which is then downloaded and supplied to you at the end of the harvest season, to help identify key areas in your fields that may require special attention in order to maximise your yields.”

We are also equipped with certified weighbridges, so you can trade your crop, and both customers know exactly what they are getting. We work with Hills Laboratories to give comprehensive Silage test results, so you are able to work out exactly what you have in your stack and how to correctly utilise it.

Maize Silage combines the maize stover and the kernels, providing a high dose of energy, protein, starch and fiber. Maize produces high yields, meaning plenty of feed at a low cost. Feeding Maize Silage creates pasture substitution, which can be very beneficial at crucial times of the year when pasture is short, and round length needs to be extended.

“Maize Silage is proven to be one of the best cow conditioners farmers have available.”

Maize for Earlage

Maize as Earlage is very similar to maize for silage but only contains the cob (grain and core plus husk covers). It is cut with a chopper (forage harvester) but utilizes our row crop header from our combine.

“Earlage is a high-moisture, high energy corn made into fermented grain.”

This feed only contains the cob (grain and core plus husk covers) and maintains a similar ME to maize grain.

The storage of Silage and Earlage is very similar and is processed the same to ensure high digestibility for both. The difference between Silage and Earlage is seen in the feed bunk. The energy contents of these feeds are in the range 12.5– 14.5 MJME/kgDM. Since there is less forage in Earlage (it leaves behind the stalk and leaves of the plant), the ratio of starch to fiber is different in the feed. This results in feed typically being higher in energy (starch) than silage with a similar protein content.