Reducing milk production costs by optimizing the use of forage corn fiber

This Task Force aims to increase profitability in Galician dairy farms by reducing milk production costs through optimising the use of fibre from fodder corn.

Currently, Galician dairy farms are unable to meet their effective fibre needs, so most are forced to supplement their livestock rations with straw purchased abroad.

The study aims to evaluate new techniques for longer chopping of corn silage and greater processing of the grain, in this way it would be possible to better use the farms' own resources, corn silage, significantly reducing purchased feed, and therefore making a more economical ration and at the same time healthier for the environment since we reduce the transport of straw over long distances.

Another of the project's evaluation points is to estimate the reduction in leachates produced in silage thanks to these new chopping techniques, thus reducing possible contamination of the environment and increasing the amount of feed available for livestock.