Three options for the best feed value from your cereal crop: silage, crimp or combine?

So you’ve got your crop growing – now is the time to weigh up your options.

Lientjie Colahan, technical sales support at Lallemand Animal Nutrition, suggests that evaluating your options early is the best way to safeguard nutritional value and protect your bottom line. Whether you need more bulk or a cheaper starch source, here are the three options to consider.

Option 1: Make wholecrop silage?

If your first or second-cut grass silage has been disappointing, wholecrop silage offers a strategic way to bridge the forage gap and reduce reliance on expensive purchased feeds this winter. Beyond just filling the clamp, wholecrop provides a dual-purpose benefit by supplying both starch and a vital “scratch factor” from the straw. This fibre is essential for balancing highly digestible, acidic grass silages in the rumen and providing a high-value feed that supports rumen health.

When deciding on this route, treat the cereal crop with the same care as if it were destined for the combine. It is often wise to wait until your grass silage analysis is back before committing to a harvest date. If the analysis shows a deficit in fibre or overall volume, wholecrop becomes a cost-effective insurance policy. To ensure this investment is protected, Magniva Platinum Wholecrop helps by rapidly acidifying the forage and keeping it stable during feed-out with its unique combination of bacteria and enzymes.

Option 2: Crimped grain?

In an environment where farm-gate prices are volatile, crimping your grain allows you to produce a rumen-friendly starch source that is significantly cheaper than bought-in concentrates. This method also allows you to retain the straw for bedding or feeding, provided it is left to dry for at least 48 hours after the grain is harvested. This path is particularly effective for those looking to reduce their reliance on external feed markets.

Crops such as maize, barley, wheat, oats, and triticale are all suitable for crimping, typically harvested two to three weeks earlier than conventional grain at a moisture content of 25-40%. However, this high moisture level makes the grain highly susceptible to yeasts and moulds. As crimp is such a high-value feed, small concrete clamps are the preferred storage method. Utilising Magniva Platinum Crimp helps drive the initial fermentation and inhibits the spoilage organisms that cause heating and nutrient loss. If farmers are using a local contractor, ensure they are prepared to adjust combining techniques, such as reducing the header width and opening sieves, to handle the moist grain safely.

Option 3: Combining for dry grain?

Allowing the crop to reach full maturity remains the traditional route, providing the flexibility of dry grain and dry straw that can be used on-farm or sold as a commodity. When weighing this up against wholecropping or crimping, the primary considerations are the value of the grain as a sold commodity versus the current cost of bought-in feed and the market value of your livestock.

For many, cash flow and the immediate need for dry bedding straw will be the deciding factors. Regardless of your choice, the goal is to protect the energy you have grown. By using research-backed inoculants to control the fermentation process in wholecrop or crimp, you ensure that the feed you put in the clamp maintains its nutritional integrity until the moment it reaches the feed trough.

For more practical advice on managing your harvest or to speak with a local specialist about your specific regional conditions, you can access Lallemand’s practical guides or find your local contact through our online directory.