Maize intercropped with climbing beans: from cultivation to feeding

Maize and climbing beans can be sown at the same time in alternating rows or in the same row in a pre-mixed mixture. The seed density should be 8 maize and 6 climbing bean seeds per m². •The runner bean varieties Tarbais and Anellino verde achieved the highest bean yields in the mixtures. •The use of heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria is recommended for good fermentation and silage qualities. •The digestibility of the organic matter as well as the metabolizable energy and the net energy lactation of maize-bean silages were higher than with pure maize silages. •Maize-bean silages can be used for feeding dairy cattle and fattening pigs without problems.