Summary

The Australian fodder industry is a leading sector delivering valuable export-grade hay to global feed markets. Oaten hay is a major component of export fodder production in SA and Vic. This project will provide a 12-month independent assessment (1) benchmarking new release oaten hay varieties for both yield and quality across multiple environments and (2) a comparison of hay sampling techniques and their influence on hay quality assessment. The outputs of this project will provide industry with independent knowledge of how new varieties perform relative to past varieties, how hay quality changes across two cutting time-points and how hay sampling protocols influence hay quality outcomes.

Program

Export Fodder

Research Organisation

The University of Adelaide (PIRSA/SARDI)

Objective Summary

The following Objectives will be undertaken by this project:

Objective 1: Comparison of new oaten hay varieties to established oaten hay varieties in terms of hay yield and quality.

Objective 2: Comparison of hay sampling techniques including: cutting at GS61 and GS71 and cutting at multiple times over the day (early morning, late morning, early afternoon and later afternoon) and different oven drying duration.