With second and third cuts now in the clamp on many farms, attention is beginning to turn towards winter feeding strategies. Analysis of more than 300 first-cut silage samples at the NWF Agriculture laboratory suggests 2026 could be remembered as one of the strongest forage years seen for some time, with quality showing a marked improvement on recent seasons.This year’s first-cut silages are showing a clear improvement compared with first cuts from 2025, reversing the five-year trend of declining silage quality.
This improvement in quality has been driven by favourable winter and spring growing conditions, although some regions experienced a drier spring than in 2025. The main driver behind this improvement is that we have seen silage cut slightly earlier this year, which has meant the grass has been leafier, less mature, lower in fibre and higher in digestibility. The weather conditions have allowed some farms to cut and wilt at the optimum growth stage of the grass, giving an increase in sugar, rapidly fermentable carbohydrate (RFC), ME, with lower fibre and NDF values. This improvement in quality will give the farmers an opportunity to include forage at higher levels within the rations, driving milk from forage with increased forage dry matter intakes. This could also give the potential to reduce purchased feed and improve feed conversion efficiency. There will, however, be a greater requirement for effective fibre and NDF sources, such as straw and fibrous straight feeds, to help balance rations.
Based on results to date, first-cut silage quality is looking exceptional for 2026. This itself will bring some challenges for winter 2026/27. Rumen health will be critical this winter. Lower fibre and NDF levels, combined with higher fermentability, will increase the risk of ruminal acid loading. Without sufficient effective fibre in the diet, the risk of digestive upsets and reduced performance will increase. To help combat this, ensure there is enough effective fibre to give the ration some structure. Higher RFC and increased protein in silage should help maintain rumen balance; starch levels will need to be reviewed carefully, along with an increased requirement for by-pass protein. Particular attention should be paid to transition and freshly calved cows.
While high-quality silage can support intakes and performance, excessive levels of rapidly fermentable carbohydrate may increase the risk of rumen instability in more vulnerable groups. Monitoring dung consistency, rumination and feed intakes will remain important throughout the winter. The higher dry matter silage, combined with higher sugar, will give the silage an increased intake potential but can also lead to increased risk of heating and aerobic spoilage. Careful clamp management, including maintaining a clean face and progressing quickly across the clamp, can help minimise spoilage.
At the feed fence, avoiding overfeeding and regularly removing refusals will further reduce heating losses and support feed intakes. Careful management at the feed fence will also be required, not overfeeding and regular removal of feed refusals will reduce waste and heating, which can lead to lower dry matter intakes. Better silage this year should give some real performance gains if diets are carefully balanced. Ensure fermentable energy and effective fibre are balanced and avoid pushing high levels of fast fermentable starch into high yielders. At the start of the feeding period and whenever there is a diet change, careful monitoring will be required. While the overall trend points towards an excellent first-cut crop, significant variation will still exist between farms, fields and individual clamps. Dry matter, protein, starch and fibre levels should never be assumed. A current forage analysis remains one of the most valuable tools when balancing winter diets, helping identify opportunities to improve performance whilst avoiding costly nutritional mistakes.
Check cows regularly for cud chewing rates, rumen fill, dung consistency, and milk butterfat; these are all indicators of rumen health. Monitor intakes and adjust as required. Most importantly, carry out regular forage analysis throughout the feeding period and use the results to review ration performance. By closely monitoring forage quality and cow response, you can maximise the value of what appears to be one of the highest-quality first-cut silage crops seen in recent years.