- When choosing the best maize seeds for silage to plant this coming October, one thing matters most: how much foliage yield one acre can produce.
- DK7500, a yellow maize, Tsavo We 4141, Rs5101, DK 8031, H6213, and H614D are the best maize seeds for silage, as they can yield over 15 tons per acre.
There are two types of maize varieties: tall varieties with a height above 3- 4 m, and short varieties with a max height of 2- 2.5 m.
Tall varieties often take longer to mature and require longer rains, while short varieties are drought-tolerant and require less rain.
Maize is ready for silage at the milk stage, often at 4-5 months for higher altitude varieties that are tall and produce the greatest tonnage per acre, and 2.5-3 months for drought-tolerant varieties.
As much as El Niño is coming, have a backup irrigation system if you plant the long-maturity varieties.
The Best Maize Seeds for Silage
DK 7500
A yellow maize, DK 7500 leads among the best maize seeds for silage this October.
It does super well at medium altitudes of 1200- 1800 m. It has a maturity of 115-125 days for silage, with an acre holding 23,000-34,000 plants.
By planting only 12- 15 kg per acre on a spacing of 70cm by 25cm, you can harvest 23-25 tons of silage.
DK7500 is a double cob yellow maize variety.
More importantly, there’s something else that makes DK7500 the best maize seed to plant for silage — a secret only serious dairy farmers who have fed silage made from DK7500 know.
DK7500 has a high starch content of 30%, high crude protein of 12.9%, high digestibility of 58.8%, and 34% dry matter, all depending on how you manage it and the quality of the silage-making process.
Some farmers have reported a 10% milk increase when DK7500 silage made up 50% of their Total Mix Ration (TMR).
This mainly occurred when cows were fed this TMR — consisting of 50% DK7500 — in the first lactating stage, that is, at least 6 months and below from calving.
It’s not that tall, roughly 2- 2.5 m high.
ALSO READ: The best maize seeds for short rains in Kenya 2026
RS 5101
The main reason RS 5101 is the best maize seed to plant for silage is its ability to withstand harsh climatic conditions and produce more foliage that remains green for longer.
This means that, without a backup irrigation system, it will still yield some maize for silage.
Plant 10- 12 kg per acre on a spacing of 60cm by 25cm; it has a maturity height of 2- 2.5 m.
It matures in 90 days and yields above 15 tons per acre, depending on how well you manage it. It’s a white double-cob maize variety.
Tsavo WE4141
It’s a drought-tolerant white maize with a maturity of 90 days and a silage yield above 15 tons per acre under good management.
Like RS 5101, it’s a water-efficient variety whose leaves remain green even after maturity, making it ideal for silage in the coming October short rains.
Plant 10- 12 kg per acre on a spacing of 60cm by 25cm; it has a maturity height of 2- 2.5 m.
DK 8031
This is a drought-tolerant variety. Best maize seeds for silage, especially for their high foliage and big seeds that enhance the protein and starch content of the silage.
It matures in 90 days and can also yield above 15 tons per acre under good management.
Plant 10- 12 kg per acre on a spacing of 60cm by 25cm; it has a maturity height of 2- 2.5 m. It’s also a double cob maize variety.
H6213
This leads the best maize seeds for silage in Kenya in the white maize category, and second overall after DK7500.
For the highest tonnage per acre, plant H6213.
It has a maturity height of over 3m and many leaves that translate to high tonnage per acre. It’s a double-cob maize variety that produces large cobs.
Under good fertilization, management, and feeding, it can yield over 30 tons per acre.
However, it has a long maturity of 5-6 months and isn’t a drought-tolerant variety.
This means if you plant it, you must have a backup irrigation system, especially this October, in the event the short rains subside before maturity.
It’s often ideal for planting during the March long rains. Plant 10- 12 kg per acre on a spacing of 60cm by 25cm.
H614D
It has almost similar characteristics to H6213. Actually, sometimes it’s hard to distinguish the two on the farm.
H614D can produce over 30 tons per acre under good fertilization and management.
It has a maturity height of over 3m. Like H6213, it takes 6 months to mature, and it’s not a drought-tolerant variety, so you might need a backup irrigation system when planting in the October short rains.
Bonus Tip
Tonnage per acre varies, as it depends on the variety and how fertile the farm is. Broadcast and plant with as much cow manure as possible.
You can intercrop with sugar, graze sorghum or millet, which have high protein content.
When chopped and ensiled together, the resulting silage often has higher crude protein than without millet and sorghum, boosting milk production.
Maize chopping and harvesting should be done at the milk stage. At this point, the crude protein content is often high.
Silage should be done professionally, with high compaction to enhance fermentation and prevent air entry.
Otherwise, instead of getting silage, you may end up with compost manure that is hazardous when fed to cows.
Many farmers can attest to this.
As a dairy farmer, what other maize varieties do you think are ideal for silage, and why?
