Fodder Crops - Completed Projects

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RIRDC Completed Projects in 1999-2000 & Research in Progress as at June 2000

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3.6 FODDER CROPS RESEARCH IN PROGRESS
PROJECT No	PROJECT TITLE	RESEARCHER	PHONE	ORGANISATION

Plant Breeding and Germplasm Evaluation

IPB-2A	Evatuation of potential fodder legume and grass crops for dryland hay production	Dr Ross Downes	(02) 6255 1461	Innovative Plant Breeders Pty Ltd
SAR-8A	Development of disease resistant, high yielding oat cultivars with enhanced quality for hay production	Dr Pamela Zwer	(08) 8303 9485	South Australian Research & Development Institute

Plant Disease, Weed, Pest and Micro-organism Management

UQ-82A

Field testing microbial innoculants for hay preservation

Dr Peter Dart

(07) 3365 2867

The University of Queensland

Plant Breeding and Germplasm Evaluation

Project Title Evaluation of potential fodder legume and grass crops for dryland hay production

RIRDC Project No.: IPB-2A

Start Date: 1/07/99

Finish Date: 30/09/02

Researcher: Dr Ross Downes

Organisation: Innovative Plant Breeders Pty Ltd

Phone: (02) 62551461

Fax: (02) 62784676

Email: ipb@interact.net.au

Objectives
· To identify the varieties of grasses and annual fodder legumes best able to meet the demand for reliable production of quality hay in a range of environments. Data will be provided to indicate the relative profitability of various species and varieties for hay, and the environmental and economic advantages of producing hay in comparison to wool and beef.

Current Progress
Overview
Field studies are in progress in diverse environments to evaluate a range of fodder legumes. Accessions of grasses have been introduced and seed increase and preliminary evaluation are in progress. An article outlining the potential of fodder legumes and grasses was published in both fodder and seed industry newsletters. The economic benefits of the potential of new fodder legumes and grasses for hay and silage are currently being considered. Close contact is being maintained with the Australian Fodder Industry Association for commercial input, particularly for market intelligence and determining market prospects.
Fodder Legumes
The ability of diverse species of fodder legumes to compete with and help reduce weed populations is being monitored. Fodder legumes are also being evaluated as nurse crops in lucerne establishment. Work is being undertaken to identify the conditions to which species and varieties are adapted, from seasonally waterlogged and acid soils to more normal conditions. Species are being rated on the quality of hay produced as they vary in ability to retain leaves in the hay-making process. Samples have been taken for analysis of hay quality and digestibility. Yield in relation to rainfall is also under investigation. The amounts of nitrogen fixed by fodder and pasture legumes are being compared in the yields of subsequent crops of cereals and canola.
Grasses
Progress in the evaluation of grasses has been slower because adapted varieties are not available. Accessions of the grasses, timothy and smooth brome, have been introduced for seed increase and evaluation for hay. Ecotypes from the Mediterranean region showed particular promise in the initial assessments because their growing season is similar to that of southern Australia.

Project Title Development of disease resistant, high yielding oat cultivars with enhanced quality for hay production

RIRDC Project No.: SAR-8A

Start Date: 1/01/98

Finish Date: 31/12/00

Researcher: Dr. Pamela Zwer

Organisation: South Australian Research and Development Institute
GPO Box 397
ADELAIDE SA 5001

Phone: (08) 8303 9485

Fax: (08) 8303 9378

Email: zwer.pamela@saugov.sa.gov.au

Objectives
· Generate new oat populations and identify selections with improved hay end-use characters based on breeding priorities identified by farmers and hay processors by 2000. Promote F5 and F6 oat lines currently in the program to advanced trials and make a decision about cultivar release by 2000.

Current Progress
The 1999 stage 4 hay trial with 32 entries was sown at five locations in South Australia and one location in Victoria. Twelve lines in the stage 4 trial were selected for the stage 5 trial, sown at three locations in South Australia and four locations in Victoria.
Seven advanced breeding lines in stage 4 trials averaged higher dry matter production than Marloo. Quality measurements were assessed for crude protein, digestibility, acid and neutral detergent fibre, shear energy, water soluble carbohydrates, and total nitrogen content by Dr. D. Henry, CSIRO, Division of Animal Production, Perth. Average water soluble carbohydrate content values for breeding lines and varieties varied from 14.7 to 26.5%. Shear energy average values varied from 10.1 to 13 kJ/m². Average hay digestibility values varied from 57.8 to 66.1 %.
Two advanced breeding lines, SA88083-4 and SA87103-109, will be released as new oat varieties for hay end-use. These midseason oat lines are adapted to low, medium, and high rainfall locations and produced consistently higher dry matter than Marloo. SA88083-4 has CCN resistance and tolerance and stem nematode tolerance. SA87103-104 has moderate resistance to stem rust, CCN resistance and tolerance and higher digestibility percent than other midseason oat varieties.

Plant Disease, Weed, Pest and Micro-organism Management

Project Title Field testing microbial innoculants for hay preservation

RIRDC Project No.: UQ-82A

Start Date: 1/07/98

Finish Date: 30/06/00

Researcher: Dr. Peter Dart

Organisation: The University of Queensland
School of Land and Food Systems
ST. LUCIA QLD 4072

Phone: (07) 3365 2867

Fax: (07) 3365 1188

Objectives
· To develop a commercial microbial inoculum for the preservation of hay and hay pellets that inhibits growth of spoilage fungi and thereby results in a superior product with a higher value in the market place. The inoculum will be available at a cost effective price and easy to use with little expenditure on application equipment. The product will potentially be available for export.

Current Progress
The project involves a collaboration between the University who are conducting the field trials and BioCare who are producing the inoculant in a form suitable for use commercially. A series of field trials have been conducted at the Gatton Campus of UQ and on commercial hay farms at Gatton and the Fassifern Valley on lucerne crops, and a forage sorghum crop. Standard, commercial cutting and baling equipment for small rectangular bales was used.
In the initial trials broth inoculant produced at UQ was used to test different methods of applying the inoculant; time of application, whether at cutting or at baling; strain of bacteria in the inoculant; and moisture of the hay at baling. Problems with the short shelf life of the broth inoculum led Biocare to perfect a method for producing a freeze-dried inoculum, which uses milk whey as a carrier. The new media formulation and fermentation method has increased the number of spores in the final broth to almost 1:1 spores to vegetative cells. The high spore population is beneficial because this will increase bacterial survival under high temperature conditions and trials have shown that bacteria numbers doubled, after being mixed with water and stored for 8 hr in a tank mounted to a tractor.
A recent trial on sorghum hay indicates that this new product, when applied at both mowing and baling, will preserve moist hay, c. 30% moisture, as well as the dry hay with little heating of the bales or mold development. The effectiveness of the inoculum was slightly reduced when applied to wet hay at baling only but was ineffective when applied at mowing only.

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Project Title	Evaluation of potential fodder legume and grass crops for dryland hay production
RIRDC Project No.:	IPB-2A
Start Date:	1/07/99
Finish Date:	30/09/02
Researcher:	Dr Ross Downes
Organisation:	Innovative Plant Breeders Pty Ltd
Phone:	(02) 62551461
Fax:	(02) 62784676
Email:	ipb@interact.net.au
Objectives	· To identify the varieties of grasses and annual fodder legumes best able to meet the demand for reliable production of quality hay in a range of environments. Data will be provided to indicate the relative profitability of various species and varieties for hay, and the environmental and economic advantages of producing hay in comparison to wool and beef.
Current Progress	Overview Field studies are in progress in diverse environments to evaluate a range of fodder legumes. Accessions of grasses have been introduced and seed increase and preliminary evaluation are in progress. An article outlining the potential of fodder legumes and grasses was published in both fodder and seed industry newsletters. The economic benefits of the potential of new fodder legumes and grasses for hay and silage are currently being considered. Close contact is being maintained with the Australian Fodder Industry Association for commercial input, particularly for market intelligence and determining market prospects. Fodder Legumes The ability of diverse species of fodder legumes to compete with and help reduce weed populations is being monitored. Fodder legumes are also being evaluated as nurse crops in lucerne establishment. Work is being undertaken to identify the conditions to which species and varieties are adapted, from seasonally waterlogged and acid soils to more normal conditions. Species are being rated on the quality of hay produced as they vary in ability to retain leaves in the hay-making process. Samples have been taken for analysis of hay quality and digestibility. Yield in relation to rainfall is also under investigation. The amounts of nitrogen fixed by fodder and pasture legumes are being compared in the yields of subsequent crops of cereals and canola. Grasses Progress in the evaluation of grasses has been slower because adapted varieties are not available. Accessions of the grasses, timothy and smooth brome, have been introduced for seed increase and evaluation for hay. Ecotypes from the Mediterranean region showed particular promise in the initial assessments because their growing season is similar to that of southern Australia.

Project Title	Development of disease resistant, high yielding oat cultivars with enhanced quality for hay production
RIRDC Project No.:	SAR-8A
Start Date:	1/01/98
Finish Date:	31/12/00
Researcher:	Dr. Pamela Zwer
Organisation:	South Australian Research and Development Institute GPO Box 397 ADELAIDE SA 5001
Phone:	(08) 8303 9485
Fax:	(08) 8303 9378
Email:	zwer.pamela@saugov.sa.gov.au
Objectives	· Generate new oat populations and identify selections with improved hay end-use characters based on breeding priorities identified by farmers and hay processors by 2000. Promote F5 and F6 oat lines currently in the program to advanced trials and make a decision about cultivar release by 2000.
Current Progress	The 1999 stage 4 hay trial with 32 entries was sown at five locations in South Australia and one location in Victoria. Twelve lines in the stage 4 trial were selected for the stage 5 trial, sown at three locations in South Australia and four locations in Victoria. Seven advanced breeding lines in stage 4 trials averaged higher dry matter production than Marloo. Quality measurements were assessed for crude protein, digestibility, acid and neutral detergent fibre, shear energy, water soluble carbohydrates, and total nitrogen content by Dr. D. Henry, CSIRO, Division of Animal Production, Perth. Average water soluble carbohydrate content values for breeding lines and varieties varied from 14.7 to 26.5%. Shear energy average values varied from 10.1 to 13 kJ/m². Average hay digestibility values varied from 57.8 to 66.1 %. Two advanced breeding lines, SA88083-4 and SA87103-109, will be released as new oat varieties for hay end-use. These midseason oat lines are adapted to low, medium, and high rainfall locations and produced consistently higher dry matter than Marloo. SA88083-4 has CCN resistance and tolerance and stem nematode tolerance. SA87103-104 has moderate resistance to stem rust, CCN resistance and tolerance and higher digestibility percent than other midseason oat varieties.

Project Title	Field testing microbial innoculants for hay preservation
RIRDC Project No.:	UQ-82A
Start Date:	1/07/98
Finish Date:	30/06/00
Researcher:	Dr. Peter Dart
Organisation:	The University of Queensland School of Land and Food Systems ST. LUCIA QLD 4072
Phone:	(07) 3365 2867
Fax:	(07) 3365 1188
Objectives	· To develop a commercial microbial inoculum for the preservation of hay and hay pellets that inhibits growth of spoilage fungi and thereby results in a superior product with a higher value in the market place. The inoculum will be available at a cost effective price and easy to use with little expenditure on application equipment. The product will potentially be available for export.
Current Progress	The project involves a collaboration between the University who are conducting the field trials and BioCare who are producing the inoculant in a form suitable for use commercially. A series of field trials have been conducted at the Gatton Campus of UQ and on commercial hay farms at Gatton and the Fassifern Valley on lucerne crops, and a forage sorghum crop. Standard, commercial cutting and baling equipment for small rectangular bales was used. In the initial trials broth inoculant produced at UQ was used to test different methods of applying the inoculant; time of application, whether at cutting or at baling; strain of bacteria in the inoculant; and moisture of the hay at baling. Problems with the short shelf life of the broth inoculum led Biocare to perfect a method for producing a freeze-dried inoculum, which uses milk whey as a carrier. The new media formulation and fermentation method has increased the number of spores in the final broth to almost 1:1 spores to vegetative cells. The high spore population is beneficial because this will increase bacterial survival under high temperature conditions and trials have shown that bacteria numbers doubled, after being mixed with water and stored for 8 hr in a tank mounted to a tractor. A recent trial on sorghum hay indicates that this new product, when applied at both mowing and baling, will preserve moist hay, c. 30% moisture, as well as the dry hay with little heating of the bales or mold development. The effectiveness of the inoculum was slightly reduced when applied to wet hay at baling only but was ineffective when applied at mowing only.

Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation

Rural Industries
Research & Development Corporation