Testimonials
Maize Silage a cornerstone in operation efficiency
That’s the wise perspective of Putāruru dairy farmer Dave McPherson, who has found that having maize silage on hand has done more than boost milk production and improve cow condition – it’s become an integral part of his farm system.
Dave operates three farming operations in South Waikato: a 650-cow dairy farm and a 900-cow dairy farm. His son Ryan spearheads a 1,250-ewe sheep milking operation, which was established about four years ago.
Maize silage has played the most transformative role to date on the 650-cow dairy farm. This high-input System 5 split-calving system produces an impressive 550-580 kgMS per cow annually. Supplementary feeding is key to sustaining the operation, especially during periods when grass growth slows.
“The cows are fed 3 kgDM/cow/day of a supplementary feed blend which includes maize silage when the grass is growing and up to 8 kgDM/cow/day in winter,” Dave says.
Growing maize silage has been part of Dave’s strategy for over 12 years, and two years ago, he transitioned to VPMAXX® . His 40-60 ha maize crop of VP399 is divided between the milking platform and a runoff.
Known for its high silage yields and robust agronomic traits, VP399 is a tall, bulky hybrid with excellent drought tolerance and staygreen. This season, Dave achieved a record yield of 25 tonnes of drymatter per hectare.
“The home crop is grown using effluent from the shed,” Dave says. “After the maize is harvested, we sow annuals and return the area to grazing land. It’s a very efficient system”.
Maize silage has brought multiple benefits to the dairy cow operation. “It has increased milk production for sure,” Dave says. “But beyond that, it gives us more control over the quality of our pasture. Our grazing rounds are exceptionally fast – 12 days in spring and 30 days in winter. Having maize silage as a buffer means we can keep our pastures in top condition. If you have maize in the stack, you have options”.
In addition to milk production, maize silage has contributed to improved cow fertility, better overall condition, and the ability to sustain split-calving.
Dave’s innovation doesn’t stop at dairy farming. In the relatively new sheep milking operation, maize silage is proving to be just as valuable.
“We’ve found that maize silage is an excellent feed for milking sheep,” Dave says. “It helps fill feed gaps and ensures consistent nutrition for the flock”.
The success of Dave’s maize crops is closely supported by his VPMAXX® Account Manager, Alan MacDougall.
“Alan provides great service, knowledge and outstanding people skills,” Dave shares. “He’s out there planning paddocks, recommending hybrids, monitoring crop growth, and advising on harvest. His expertise has been invaluable”.
For Dave, VPMAXX® maize silage is more than just a crop – it’s a cornerstone of his multi-faceted farming operation. Whether it’s driving milk production, supporting sheep milking or enhancing pasture quality, the results speak for themselves. With VPMAXX® maize silage in the stack, the possibilities are endless.