Feeding maize silage for cattle and sheep

Maize silage is a valuable forage for cattle and sheep due to its high energy and starch content. When managed and supplemented correctly, it can significantly improve the performance of growing, finishing and breeding livestock. Learn about the feed value of maize silage and maize grain and how to use them in cattle and sheep diets.

Maize is a high-energy, high-starch forage that supports rumen fermentation and liveweight gain. It works well in total mixed rations (TMR) and as part of a buffer feed.

Maize silage typically contains less protein than grass silage – a protein supplement is essential, particularly for youngstock, finishing cattle and ewes in late pregnancy – but it provides significant benefits when used as part of a balanced ration.

It is also highly palatable, which encourages intakes. This is especially useful when livestock have reduced appetites, e.g. post-weaning or during transition periods.

Table 1. Typical nutritional composition of maize silage and maize grain on a dry matter basis

Maize silage is suitable for:

• Growing and finishing beef cattle: Boosts daily liveweight gain and feed conversion efficiency
• Dairy cows: Provides a dense source of energy in early lactation when energy demand is high
• Youngstock and replacement heifers: Helps meet growth targets when balanced with protein

• Intakes: Cattle typically consume 2–2.5% of bodyweight as DM
• Protein supplementation: Balance rations with rapeseed meal, urea-treated straw or co-products such as brewers’ grains or distillers’ grains
• Fibre balance: Make sure cattle have enough rough fibre, e.g. straw or hay, to keep the rumen working properly and reduce the risk of acidosis
• Transition gradually: Introduce maize silage over 7–10 days so the rumen microbes can adapt
• Silage quality: Avoid feeding mouldy or poorly fermented silage, particularly in high-performance dairy rations

The high energy content of maize can support lamb growth and ewe condition.

It is also useful when grass growth is limited or if you need to extend forage supplies.

Maize silage can be a useful winter forage for:

• In-lamb ewes, especially twin-bearing ewes with high energy requirements
• Store lambs, to support finishing on forage-based systems

• Ewes: Feed alongside a high-protein forage, e.g. hay or legume silage, or supplement with protein, e.g. soya or lupins, to meet late-pregnancy demands
• Store lambs: Can be offered ad lib, but it must be well conserved and introduced gradually; balance with a small amount of high-protein concentrate to promote lean growth
• Avoid overfeeding: Monitor condition score – maize silage can lead to excessive fat cover, particularly in housed ewes or slow-growing lambs
• Clamp management: Ensure good clamp management to prevent spoilage
• Silage quality: Don’t feed mouldy silage to sheep – they are more susceptible to mycotoxins than cattle