Ukrainian livestock farming is entering a new era. The climate is changing, grain markets remain volatile, and competition for every litre of milk is increasing. Under these conditions, farmers are looking for technologies that provide stability, energy efficiency and profitability.

One such technology is earlage — a high-moisture feed made from the whole corn ear, combining grain, cob and husks. It delivers high energy value while reducing the risk of acidosis.

Scientific research confirms that earlage can provide 10–15% more feed mass compared with harvesting grain alone, while its energy value is close to that of high-moisture corn grain. This makes the technology particularly relevant for Ukraine, where climatic fluctuations have become the new normal.

So how can this technology be implemented on a Ukrainian farm? What equipment is required, and is suitable machinery already available in Ukraine?

CLAAS and John Deere Cornage Adapters: The Key to High-Quality Earlage

The A.TOM Group offers Ukrainian farmers specialized adapters for earlage and cornage harvesting, including:

• Twin-roller cornage adapter (adapter frame) for CLAAS forage harvesters, Series 493–502
• Cornage adapter (adapter frame) for John Deere forage harvesters, Series 8000/9000

These modules perform several critical functions:

1. Correct ear or high-moisture grain intake

The adapter allows the forage harvester to operate not simply as a conventional silage machine, but as a machine for harvesting earlage or cornage. It changes the geometry of the crop flow, ensuring that ears or grain are accurately guided between the rollers instead of being scattered.

2. Stabilized crop flow

The two rollers even out the flow of corn ears, reduce surges and help stabilize the load on the kernel processor and cutterhead.

3. Improved grain processing

Correct positioning of the corn ears allows the grain to be processed more effectively: the kernels are opened more thoroughly, the pericarp is disrupted, and the starch becomes more readily available to the animal.

Without the appropriate adapter, earlage cannot deliver its full potential. Incomplete grain processing can reduce starch availability and ultimately lower feed quality.

What Are the Benefits of Earlage for Ukrainian Farmers?

Frequent droughts, uneven rainfall and heat waves are causing corn to dry down faster and making harvest timing increasingly difficult. Under these conditions, earlage and cornage can become strategically important, while the right adapter is a key component of the harvesting system.

1. More energy with a lower risk of acidosis

The cob provides a natural source of physically effective fibre. This can help moderate starch availability, support stable rumen function and reduce the risk of acidosis when the ration is properly formulated.

2. Up to 1.5–2.5 litres more milk

Research and practical experience from dairy farms in the United States and Canada indicate that earlage can support increased milk production, particularly in high-producing groups.

3. Savings on grain drying

Drying one tonne of corn requires significant amounts of energy and fuel. Earlage eliminates the need to dry the harvested material, reducing drying-related costs.

4. 10–15% more feed mass

Harvesting the entire corn ear provides a higher feed yield than harvesting grain alone.

5. A more uniform TMR

When properly processed, earlage can contribute to a more consistent total mixed ration (TMR), reducing the opportunity for cows to selectively consume grain and helping maintain more stable dry matter intake (DMI) and milk production.

Real-World Benefits: Examples from Europe and North America
USA, Wisconsin — 1,200-cow dairy farm

• +2.1 litres of milk per cow
• –18% grain costs
• Equipment payback within two seasons

Canada, Ontario — 450-cow dairy farm

• –32% cases of subclinical acidosis
• +2.4 litres of milk in the peak-production group

Germany, Bavaria — 300-cow dairy farm

• +14% feed yield
• 6:1 ROI
• More stable milk production during periods of heat stress

Poland, Greater Poland Voivodeship

Smaller dairy farms with 100–200 cows are using adapters on used CLAAS 493–502 forage harvesters as a cost-effective way to produce high-energy feed.

Key benefits include:

• an affordable way to produce high-energy feed;
• a 12–18% reduction in purchased compound feed.

Why Is Earlage Particularly Suitable for Ukraine?

Ukraine has some of the best conditions for growing corn, but its climate is becoming increasingly unpredictable. Earlage helps minimize these risks by harvesting the entire corn ear rather than grain alone.

CLAAS and John Deere cornage adapters make it possible to produce a consistent, high-quality feed even in challenging seasons.

ROI for a Ukrainian Farmer

What can a farmer gain by investing in a cornage adapter?

Potential benefits include:

• USD 20–30/t savings on drying costs;
• 10–15% more feed mass;
• 1.5–2.5 litres more milk per cow per day;
• lower risk of acidosis;
• more stable milk production during periods of heat stress.

A typical ROI can reach 6:1, with a potential payback period of 2–3 seasons.

Earlage: More Feed. More Energy. More Milk. More Profit.

Earlage is a technology that can give farmers more feed, more energy, more milk and greater profitability.

CLAAS and John Deere cornage adapters make this technology accessible to farms of different sizes and production systems.

Ukrainian farms are already moving toward a new standard of feed production. Those who adopt the technology early can gain a competitive advantage for years to come.

Buy a cornage adapter (adapter frame) for earlage harvesting on our website or call +380 67 411 44 10.