A NORTH Yorkshire dairy farm is helping to trial a new maize concept in the UK.

Shaun Sowray farms with his brothers – Peter and Paul – as A Sowray & Sons, at Bishop Thornton, near Harrogate.

They grow maize, wholecrop wheat and grass and this year plan to increase their dairy herd from 370 to 420.

They tried maize some years ago, but dropped it because the varieties at the time did not suit their conditions.

Shaun Sowray said: “We went back into maize growing six years ago when we could see the varieties had improved and could perform for us.”

However, he still felt they could do better and accepted advisor Peter Schofield’s invitation to join the trials, which put the emphasis on the cow rather than the crop.

Duo CS Maize is from Caussade Semences, a farmer-owned breeding cooperative in France that has enjoyed six years of Continental success.

The concept uses two hybrids with the same maturity, specially selected to be grown, harvested, ensiled and fed together to give highly digestible fibre, as well as rumen-degradable starch and rumen by-pass starch.

Mr Schofield said: “Results show consistency in silage and cow rations, a better feed balance, and contentment in cows – the key to improved milk yields.

“Less undigested grains pass through, and there is less risk of acidosis – leading to more productive, healthier and happier cows.”

Mr Sowray grew the crop on lower lying land whose lighter soils suit maize.

“The crop benefited from good moisture when it was drilled and it looked good throughout the growing season, right up to harvest,” he said.

“In fact, our contractor said it was the best field of maize he had harvested that year.”

The brothers were delighted with the yield – nearly 22 tonnes/acre off the 60 acres grown. But Mr Schofield said: “Today, maize growers in the north are satisfied with 17 to 18 tonnes per acre, but I would say that the 20 tonnes plus that Shaun’s crop achieved is the baseline for a good grower with the right variety, the right land and the right agronomy.”

Mr Sowray said the clamp of Duo Maize looked good and benefited from a thin plastic clamp film called Clingseal beneath the conventional black sheeting.

“It proved its worth in preventing top and shoulder wastage by giving an effective air seal,” he said.

The silage analysis programme sees samples taken from the clamp every 28 to 30 days.

Frank Wright performs a full analysis, including starch, ME and protein.

“But, I would stress that we are not concerned with the exact levels of these – so long as they are within our overall guidelines,” said Mr Schofield.

“What we are focused on is the regularity of the silage – that’s what brings the results in the milking parlour.”

Mr Sowray said: “What we want is consistency through the winter as the maize silage goes into the TMR, so each bite our cows take contains the required level of nutrients and is the same day after day.

“That is what the Duo maize silage is bringing to our rations – and our milk yields.”

The trials programme is expanding. Interested dairy farmers are asked to contact Mr Schofield on 07786-730240.