Dry matter is of crucial importance in measuring both silage and establishing crop harvest dates.  It is very important to know this figure, to measure sufficient forage stocks and to correctly balance rations.  Care must be taken when interpreting silage analysis because forages over 27% dry matter are likely to dry further before they are sampled.  As a result, oven or microwave tests offer a quick accurate dry matter figure.

Establishing a maize plant dry matter figure:

1. Take several maize plants from the representative locations in a field.
2. Split the plant in half and chop into 2.5cm pieces.
3. Mix plant pieces together in a bucket and take 100 grams of material.
4. Place bowl and 100 grams* of material in oven (150°C) or microwave. If using a microwave, ensure a glass of water is also added next to the bowl. Remember to omit bowl weight from calculations.
5. Remove bowl and turn maize over, to allow further drying – then put back into the oven.
6. Keep heating until the maize plant stops losing weight.
7. Then measure cooked weight, divide starting weight and times by 100 to learn dry matter %.
8. An oven test with a sample spread over the tray is the best method.

*A larger sample weight can be used and would be more accurate but takes longer to cook.
This method can be applied to both silage and fresh grass, which can then form a good combination with plate metering to ensure sufficient grass is available.

For more information, please contact Wesley at wesleyhabershon@fcgagric.com or your local FCG Office.