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When to Harvest Small-Grain Silages?

When to Harvest Small-Grain Silages?- A Nutritional and Economic Perspective

Introduction: Small-Grain Grasses in Dairy Forage Systems

Small-grain cereals such as barley, triticale, and rye play an important role in dairy forage production, particularly in double-cropping systems where timing and quality are critical. The decision on when to harvest—either at the boot stage (BT) or the soft dough stage (SFT)—significantly impacts forage yield, nutritional quality, and the economics of feeding dairy cows.

 

Yield Benefits of Harvesting at Soft Dough Stage (SFT)

The study by Ferreira et al. (2025) demonstrates that harvesting at SFT increases dry matter (DM) yield substantially:

This increase in biomass results in lower silage cost per unit because fixed inputs are spread over a greater forage yield, making SFT an attractive option from a purely volume-based cost perspective.

 

Nutritional Trade-offs: Quality vs. Quantity

Despite the yield benefits, nutritional quality declines when harvesting at SFT:

These changes can impact rumen health and feed efficiency, making the nutritional trade-offs critical when deciding harvest timing.

 

Timing Considerations and Crop Rotation

Delaying harvest from BT to SFT can take 24 to 44 additional days, depending on species. This delay:

Farmers must weigh forage yield against the broader impact on the entire cropping system.

 

Economic Impact on Ration Formulation

The study’s ration formulation models examined various commodity price scenarios:

 

Key Takeaways

 

Conclusion and Future Directions

Ferreira et al. conclude that while harvest maturity profoundly affects forage quality and yield, more research is needed to link these differences to actual dairy cow performance and environmental impacts. These findings provide valuable guidance for farmers and nutritionists balancing yield, quality, and economic efficiency in dairy forage management.

Source: Ferreira, G., Geiser, D., Shaeffer, J., & LeBlanc, S. (2025). Effect of maturity at harvest of small-grain grasses on the nutritional composition of forage and ration formulation. Journal of Dairy Science, 108(5), 4934–4945. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2023-24468

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