maize

Bijeenkomst: EGF2015
Auteur: Mantovi P., Dal Prà A., Pacchioli M.T. and Ligabue M.
ISBN: 978-9090-289-61-8
Jaar van uitgifte: 2015
Producttype: Paper
In the Po river valley, which represents the largest plain area of Northern Italy, the two main dairy farming systems are associated with cheese production: one for Grana Padano (GP) cheese using silage as the main forage source, and the other for Parmigiano-Reggiano (PR) cheese using hay, where silage fodders are banned to prevent Clostridium contamination and potential swelling defects in the cheese with the lengthy seasoning times. Maize silage is the mainstay forage base for fresh milk and GP cheese forage systems. Farm forage self-sufficiency is not always possible, mainly due to dry seasons and/or the practice of maize monoculture. In addition to the difficulties arising from low quantity production, problems of fodder safety (e.g. mycotoxins contamination of maize grain) and nutritional value occur. Regulations in force for PR production set the minimum level of dry matter intake from hay at 50% of dairy cows’ rations. Difficulties arise in optimizing nutritional values and dry-matter intake when poor quality forages are available. Research is ongoing to evaluate the optimal alfalfa-grass mix, investigating how to maximize forage nutritional value and digestibility. Moreover, both dairy farming systems are highly dependent on imported feedstuffs: soybean from overseas, maize and other starch grains. Ongoing research activities are seeking to establish whether maize or soybean can be partially replaced by other crops (e.g. sorghum, triticale, grains with high protein content, alfalfa and grain legumes).

Bijeenkomst: EGF2015
Auteur: Santiago C., Jiménez-Calderón J.D., González A., Vicente F. and Martínez-Fernández A.
ISBN: 978-9090-289-61-8
Jaar van uitgifte: 2015
Producttype: Paper
The oceanic climate conditions of Asturias (Spain) are favourable for grass and pasture production. However, the use of concentrates in dairy-cow diets has increased in the last decades. The aim was to study the differences in milk composition in the four feeding systems identified in the North of Spain through the monitoring of 16 dairy farms. The criteria to describe feeding systems were: grazing (G) and nongrazing. Moreover, three subgroups were identified within ‘non-grazing’ in terms of the percentage of the usable agricultural area (UAA) designated to maize culture: less than 20% (20M), about 50% (50M) and more than 75% (75M) of UAA. Four dairy farms were selected by their feeding system. Feed and milk were sampled and analysed in summer, autumn and winter of 2014. The results show that the protein, lactose and solids-non-fat in milk were higher (P

Bijeenkomst: EGF2015
Auteur: Halling M.A.
ISBN: 978-9090-289-61-8
Jaar van uitgifte: 2015
Producttype: Paper
Classifying earliness, or adaptation to a certain climate, is very important in varieties of maize (Zea mays L.). The most common classification system is the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) maturity class. This study systematically explored the response of maize varieties with different earliness in the maize-growing area in Sweden and examined possible alternatives to the FAO system for classifying earliness in maize varieties in Sweden. Based on differences in maturation rate according to the FAO index, four maize varieties were selected from variety trials in Sweden 2009-2011. At four sites (56°02- 59°71N), the development of these varieties was determined on four occasions, when the standard variety Avenir was at silking, milk, dough and dent. Aboveground dry matter (DM) yield, DM content and starch content were measured on the latter three occasions and at final harvest of Avenir. Ontario Corn Heat Units (CHU) were calculated for all sites. DM and starch content in the varieties Avenir and Jasmic showed a significant high linear correlation with CHU (R2=0.79 and 0.75, respectively). It was concluded that an index based on the correlation between DM or starch concentration and CHU could be an alternative to the FAO maturity class system for ranking earliness in maize varieties in the Nordic countries.