Wholecrop silage and crimped grain for resilient dairy feed plans

Wholecrop silage and crimped grain can offer dairy farmers a practical way to make better use of home-grown cereals, reduce reliance on bought-in feed and respond to changing forage requirements through the season.

When planning forage and feed requirements, many farms will be weighing up silage quality, available feed stocks and considering how they can produce a balanced ration.

Ensiled cereals are a good flexible option, whether the aim is to increase home-grown starch, provide structural fibre or create an additional forage option within the rotation.

Wholecrop or crimp: which option should you choose?

Wholecrop and crimped grain both have a role in dairy rations, but they serve different purposes.

Wholecrop silage is a useful option where farms need extra bulk, digestible fibre and some starch. It can work well alongside high-quality, leafy grass silage by adding structure to the ration and supporting rumen function.

Crimped grain is better suited where the ration needs more energy. It provides a high-starch, home-grown feed source and can help reduce reliance on bought-in concentrates.

The best choice will depend on the forage already in the clamp, the quality of grass silage and the nutritional requirements of the herd.

Getting harvest timing right

The feed value of wholecrop silage and crimped grain depends heavily on harvest timing. Cutting too early or too late can affect feed value, fermentation quality and how easy the crop is to preserve.

Wholecrop cereals are usually harvested in July or August at around 33-45% dry matter, when the grain is at the soft cheddar cheese stage, and the leaves are beginning to brown. At this point, the crop should have enough moisture to support fermentation, while still carrying enough starch to contribute meaningful energy to the ration.

Harvesting too wet can reduce starch content and intake potential. Harvesting too dry can make consolidation more difficult, increasing the risk of heating, spoilage and nutrient losses in the clamp.

Crimped grain is usually harvested at 25-40% moisture, around two weeks before conventional combining. This earlier harvest can offer flexibility, but moisture level remains important. If grain becomes too dry, it can be harder to ensile effectively, increasing the risk of poor fermentation and aerobic spoilage. Barley can require particular care for both wholecrop and crimped grain, as it can become more difficult to process if the crop gets too mature.

Protecting feed value in the clamp

The value of wholecrop and crimped grain depends not only on the crop grown, but on how well it is preserved.

Wholecrop can be harder to compact than grass silage because of its hollow and waxy stems. This means oxygen can remain trapped in the clamp if the crop is not chopped, layered, rolled and sealed correctly. Where oxygen is present, yeasts and moulds can develop, increasing the risk of heating and spoilage.

Crimped grain can also be vulnerable to heating and nutrient losses if fermentation is not well controlled. As a high-starch feed, maintaining stability through storage and at feed-out is essential to help protect the energy value captured at harvest.

Good clamp management is therefore critical. Crops should be clamped in thin, even layers, rolled well and sealed quickly to reduce oxygen exposure. A high oxygen barrier film, such as OxyBlock, and effective weighting can also help protect the crop in the clamp during storage.

Using a crop-specific inoculant can support a fast, efficient fermentation and help improve aerobic stability at feed-out by reducing the number and activity of spoilage organisms. Helping retain more of the feed value from ensiling through to feeding.

Key management tips

Where Magniva fits in

Magniva Platinum Wholecrop is designed specifically for wholecrop cereals and contains a combination of bacteria and enzymes to help support fermentation, reduce spoilage organisms and improve aerobic stability.

This is particularly important for cereal crops, which can be more challenging to ensile because of their complex crop structure. Used alongside good harvest timing, short chop length, effective consolidation and rapid sealing, Magniva Platinum Wholecrop can help protect feed quality from clamp to feed-out.

Magniva Platinum Crimp is applied during the crimping process and is designed to support the production of a clean feed in crimped grain. It targets yeasts and moulds – reducing their activity, supports a rapid pH drop and helps protect feed value through storage and feed-out.

By supporting fermentation and aerobic stability, the right inoculant can help farmers retain more of the nutrients captured at harvest, reduce losses and make better use of home-grown feed.

Supporting more cost-effective dairy systems

With feed costs, milk price pressure, and weather uncertainty continuing to challenge dairy businesses, wholecrop silage and crimped grain can help build more resilience into feed rations.

For many farms, the value lies in flexibility. Wholecrop and crimped cereals allow producers to respond to the forage they have, rather than committing too early to a plan. They can help add starch, fibre, bulk or energy depending on what the ration requires.

By making better use of home-grown cereals, farmers can create flexible ration options, support consistency and reduce reliance on bought-in feed. When harvested at the right stage and preserved correctly, wholecrop silage and crimped grain can form a valuable part of a cost-effective dairy feeding strategy.

Speak to your local regional business manager to discuss how Magniva Platinum Wholecrop or Magniva Platinum Crimp could support your forage strategy this season. For further information, talk to one of the team using the contact page.