This is the second source of fodder, after grass, and has become the main type of fodder used to winter feed dairy cows.  It is a natural product which farmers can trust as they know where it comes from and how it is grown.  High yield.
 
Silage maize can be well stored and is attractive feed for dairy cows, with good energy content, providing up to 80% of their energy requirements and 40% of their nitrogen requirements.  1.5kg of maize, with a good nitrogen supplement, will produce approximately 1kg of milk.
Quality value added.
 
Dairy Products:   The French agronomic research institute [INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique], recommends silage maize to improve the quality of winter butter (better vitamin content, colour and texture).
Meat:  Animals fed on silage maize produce very good quality meat, as has been shown in experimental studies on Blonde d'Aquitaine cattle.  The meat is very tender and retains its texture, both firm and tender, after being aged for two weeks or more.

. Two Outlets
 
Nearly three-quarters of grain maize produced is eaten by wild and domestic animals, mainly poultry and pigs.  Maize is consumed directly on the farm (on-farm consumption) or sold to cattle feed manufacturers.  It is ground and mixed with other raw materials, such as soybean or peas, to produce meal and pellets.
 
. Energy-Rich Feed
 
Grain maize is good animal feed because of the high energy content, as it is rich in starch and maize germ oil.  It has the highest energy content of any grain.  For poultry farming, it provides more available energy than wheat.  With this energy supply, 100kg of maize can produce 60kg of pork or 83 dozen eggs, 80kg of turkey, 45kg of guinea-fowl or 30kg of fatted duck, including 2.5kg of fatted liver (foie gras). 
 
. Reliable Feed
 
The composition of maize (including carotenes and linoleic acid) means it has specific characteristics of interest for raising “label chickens” (e.g. Red Label) and laying hens.  It is also a reference feed for animals producing many quality label products, e.g. poultry from the Landes or Bresse, Bayonne ham and foie gras.