New Mycogen BMR Corn Hybrid Promises 7% Feed Efficiency Gain
cows at the bunk(Jim Dickrell)
Mycogen Seeds unveiled its new “Unified” corn silage hybrid this week here at World Dairy Expo, with trials showing a 7% improvement in feed efficiency and 10 lb. more energy corrected milk compared to conventional corn hybrids.
The “Unified” line comes with “SilaSoft” technology, which delivers a soft kernel for improved starch digestibility. So the dual digestible BMR line now offers both high fiber and starch digestibility. “Whole-plant digestibility helps increase dry matter intake, delivers more energy and improves rumen health, which translates to more milk and better components,” says Rachael Christiansen, silage portfolio marketing leader for Mycogen.
Research with the new hybrid at the William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute in Chazy, N.Y., showed a 7% increase in butterfat and a 13% jump in protein when compared to conventional corn hybrids. “Through the research, we saw the advantage of having a product that combines both fiber and starch digestibility into one product,” says Rick Grant, president of Miner Institute. “Producers should be able to feed higher forage diets, have more flexibility in how they formulate rations and feed the rumen more efficiently.”
The SilaSoft technology with its softer kernel offers a more forgiving harvest window as well. “It also enables earlier feed-out since the softer kernel requires less fermentation time,” says Jim Henry, Dairy Development Manager for Mycogen’s western region. “Producers are seeing positive results when feeding just six weeks after harvest. That is a big advantage when managing inventory.”
Unified corn silage hybrids will be available in limited quantities for the 2018 crop year, with maturities ranging from 95 to 114 days. More seed should be available for the 2019 season.
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