Feeding maize silage in winter: Setting the herd up for success
As I write this article, we have just had our first frost in the Waikato, a change in weather signalling that winter is upon us.
I’ve been hearing from many farmers who are planning to dry off earlier than planned simply because they’ve run out of feed. That’s a tough spot to be in, especially when every extra day in milk could be adding dollars to your bottom line.
With interest rates easing and a strong milk payout forecasted, now is the time to start planning how to maximise the opportunity for next season. Whether you’re looking to extend lactation, preserve body condition, or carry more feed into spring, maize silage should be part of the conversation.
When feed runs short, options get expensive
This summer, we’ve seen an increase in demand for feed across many regions, particularly in the North Island. Farmers have had to scramble for alternatives, often at short notice and higher prices. Rising costs for imported feed and ongoing volatility in pasture growth are making home-grown solutions like maize silage more attractive than ever.
Whether you’re buying it in or growing it on-farm, maize silage remains one of the most cost-effective and flexible supplementary feeds in our systems. It stores well, feeds well, and can be strategically used throughout the season to support milk production.
Time to replace what you've used
If you’ve dipped into your silage reserves this summer and autumn, the next step is ensuring you replace that feed next season.
If you’re growing maize silage, now’s the time to start planning:
- Select paddocks due for pasture renewal.
- Look for opportunities to use nutrients from effluent paddocks.
- Start preparing for the crop - soil testing, correcting fertility and pH.
Getting this groundwork right is essential to ensure yield targets are met and the economics stack up.
And if you’re buying maize silage, talk to your contractor or grower sooner rather than later. Locking in feed early not only secures supply, it can also help manage price and quantity expectations.
The benefits of maize silage in autumn and beyond
Maize silage acts as a buffer that helps you:
- Maintain milk production when pastures are struggling.
- Extend grazing rotations to protect pasture cover going into winter.
- Preserve cow body condition through late lactation, setting animals up for better production and mating outcomes.
Maize silage gives you flexibility. A well-preserved stack on-farm is like a savings account— there when you need it, on your terms. In a year where every extra day in milk could be worth more than ever, having enough feed in reserve gives you the confidence to fill feed deficits and achieve your production goals.
So, whether you’re topping up depleted reserves or taking the opportunity to carry more feed into next season, now is the time to act.
The earlier you plan, the more options and value you unlock.
If you’d like help working through the numbers or designing a feed plan that works for your system, get in touch with me or my colleague Matt Dalley. You’ll find our contact details at pioneer.co.nz.
Wade Bell is Genetic Technologies farm systems manager. Contact him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
