Indices on Forage Manager
The report from Forage Manager includes several indices. These parameters provide a practical indicator based on a model calculation. They allow for easy assessment of forage quality and enable timely adjustments during the growing season.
Each index is based on an evaluation of multiple variables and has been developed in collaboration with experts. Eurofins Agro calculates the following indices for forage:
N-Index - The N-Index instantly shows whether the nitrogen supply for a grass cut was sufficient. It helps you assess if nitrogen application was appropriate in relation to the silage quality. As such, the N-Index is a valuable tool for producing high-quality grass silage and improving nitrogen use efficiency on your farm.
S-Index - The S-Index provides a clear indication of whether the sulphur supply for grass growth was adequate. It reflects the sulphur availability relative to the achieved grass yield. This insight allows you to optimise sulphur fertilisation in the next growing season, helping you produce more homegrown forage with high protein quality, and ultimately improve overall protein efficiency on your farm.
Preservation Index - The Preservation Index gives an immediate indication of how well the silage was preserved. This enables early intervention if fermentation was suboptimal, helping you prevent issues such as reduced feed intake or butyric acid traces in milk. The index also provides insight into how silage management can be improved for future cuts.
Overheating Index - The Heating Index reveals how susceptible the silage is to aerobic spoilage (heating) once exposed to air. When the risk is high, it allows you to take early action to reduce feed-out losses. As a result, you retain more feed value and increase the efficiency of your forage utilisation. The index also supports better silage management for future harvests.
Methane Index - The Methane Index shows the predicted methane emissions from silage fed to dairy cows. It helps you compare forage across seasons and reduce your farm’s environmental impact. Up to 70% of methane in a dairy diet comes from forage.