A poor spring has negatively impacted the quality of first-cut silages, with analysis showing many forages are unexpectedly low in energy (ME) and dry matter digestibility (D-Value).Initial results available from independent testing show an average energy content of 10.6 ME across NI farms. That is significantly below the optimum of 11.5 ME in first-cut silages harvested in May and ultimately means lower milk yield and liveweight gain, unless some form of energy supplementation is offered.