Mycogen® brand Silage-Specific™ corn hybrids swept the competition at the World’s Forage Analysis Superbowl, earning 18 of 20 possible placings in two categories. In the Brown Mid-Rib (BMR) Dairy Corn Silage category, Mycogen brand Silage-Specific BMR hybrids took all 10 placings. In the Standard Dairy Corn Silage category, Mycogen brand hybrids earned eight of 10 possible placings.
“We are very excited about the outstanding results our customers were able to achieve in the World’s Forage Analysis Superbowl,” says Greg Cannon, Marketing Specialist, Mycogen Seeds. “Top placings year after year have firmly established Mycogen Seeds as the leader in corn hybrids bred specifically for silage.”
Corn silage samples are analyzed for dry matter, crude protein, acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD). All entries of whole plant corn silage must have been ensiled and show signs of fermentation.
The corn silage class was selected based on digestibility, and finalist samples were judged according to the following criteria:
- Forage Analysis 60%
- Visual 20%
- Herd Production Info 10%
- Milk Per Ton 10%
“Our broad line of Mycogen brand Silage-Specific corn hybrids are bred specifically for nutritional quality and offer the most digestible nutrients for maximum animal performance,” explains Cannon. “The diverse lineup allows growers to choose the proper hybrid for their geography and management practices.”
The BMR Corn Silage division Grand Champion was Matt Steiner of Pine Tree Dairy Farm, Rittman, Ohio, with his Mycogen F2F797 entry.
“The BMR corn silage allows me to get higher digestible forages into the diet of my cows,” says Steiner. “The Mycogen F2F797 hybrid met our goals and yielded well. It is a tool that can help increase production and the overall health of our cows.”
Mycogen® brand Silage-Specific BMR hybrids dominated the Dairy Corn Silage (BMR)category, including winning entries from: Steiner Farms, Sterling, Ohio; Jon Merrell, Wolcott, N.Y.; Sharo – Dan Farm, Dalton, Ohio; Springbrook Farm LLC, Bryant, Wis.; Petro Farms, Allegan, Mich.; Taft Dairy, Huntington, Vt.; Wayside Dairy, Greenleaf, Wis.; Duepengiesser Dairy Co., Perry, N.Y.; and Twin River Dairy, Freeport, Mich.
The Grand Champion Standard Corn Silage division was won by Chad Gernaat of Autumn Vista Dairy, McBain, Mich.
“The TMF2N422 hybrid yielded exceptionally well this year,” says Gernaat. “We’ve planted Mycogen for seven years after recommendation from our nutritionist, and I’ve noticed an improvement in our herd’s production and health.”
Mycogen brand hybrids received eight of 10 placings in the Standard Dairy Corn Silage (non-BMR) class, including: Luke Haywood, Hastings, Mich.; Steve Benthem, McBain, Mich.; Goma Dairy Farm LLC, Marlette, Mich.; Maple Downs Farms 2, Middleburgh, N.Y.; Gernaat Family Farms, Marion, Mich.; Mervyn Roundtree, Pigeon, Mich.; and Endsly Dairy Farm LLC, Hastings, Mich.
The organizing partners of the World’s Forage Analysis Superbowl are AgSource Cooperative Services, DairyBusiness Communications, Hay and Forage Grower/Webb Publications, USDA Forage Research Center, University of Wisconsin-College of Agriculture & Life Sciences and World Dairy Expo.
Mycogen Seeds is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company and is an affiliate of Dow AgroSciences LLC. Mycogen Seeds is the leader in Silage-Specific corn, the largest sunflower seed producer, and a leading producer of seed corn, alfalfa, soybeans and sorghum. For more information on Mycogen Seeds, visit www.mycogen.com.
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