Project Title

A uniform objective system for quality description of Australian fodder products

Objective

• To develop and implement a national uniform objective system for quality description of Australian fodder products, based on the needs and specifications of end-users, in order to facilitate effective marketing.

The fodder industry is worth approximately $700 million per year to Australia, but the industry is fragmented and has been operating without adequate quality standards. There is an increasing awareness of the need to trade hay and other fodders on the basis of their feeding value, ie. in terms of animal performance, rather than on subjective criteria such as colour and aroma. Objective measurements of fodder quality are being increasingly used, but not all testing laboratories measure the same feed constituents or use the same testing procedures, which can cause confusion within the industry. Agreement is needed throughout the industry on the most important quality measurements, and uniform analytical procedures are required between laboratories for these measurements.

Research

A national meeting, with delegates representing all sectors of the fodder industry from producers through to end-users, was convened to seek agreement on the criteria needed for a uniform system of objective quality description. Two subsequent meetings were held between representatives of Australia’s major fodder testing laboratories to decide on detailed procedures for the agreed standard laboratory tests, and to arrange an ongoing quality assurance program. Sixteen different hays were selected and fed to sheep in order to measure in vivo digestibility and ad libitum intake. Quantities of these hays were set aside as "standards", to be used as reference material for calibration of laboratory techniques to estimate digestibility (and hence metabolisable energy).

Outcome

The national forum resulted in agreement that the major quality criteria of fodder should be moisture, crude protein and metabolisable energy. The forum also led directly to the formation of the Australian Fodder Industry Association (AFIA), which is now recognised as the peak body for the industry and is in its third year of operation.

Agreement has been obtained between the major fodder testing laboratories on uniform analytical procedures to measure moisture, crude protein and metabolisable energy, and a set of recommended methods will be distributed and implemented by late 1998.

The sixteen hays fed to sheep covered a wide range of species and quality, with measured in vivo digestibility ranging from 49.7% to 68.7%. A financially viable mechanism has been recommended for the supply and distribution of these hay "standards" to approved laboratories.

A new grading system for hay quality, based on metabolisable energy and protein content, has also been produced and will be presented to the 1998 Annual Conference of AFIA. If accepted, it will be implemented nationally and become part of the AFIA Vendor Declaration Form.

Implications

The hay "standards" produced will form the basis of a nationally uniform system for laboratory estimation of fodder quality. The agreement obtained among laboratories will result in an effective system of quality description, easily recognised and understood by the industry, and will lead to improved marketing of fodder products, both in Australia and on export markets. Buyers would get better value for money, and sellers would receive bonus payments for a higher quality product.

RIRDC Project No: DAV-104A

Contact: Peter Flinn

Organisation: Agriculture Victoria, Pastoral and Veterinary Institute, Private Bag 105, Hamilton, VICTORIA 3300

Contacts: Phone: (03) 5573 0900  Fax: (03) 5571 1523   E-mail: flinnp@hammy.agvic.gov.au

Establishment of annual ryegrass toxicity (ARGT) testing services and protocols for the Australian export hay industry

Objective

• To develop recommendations on sampling protocols for the export oat hay industry to minimise the risk of annual ryegrass infected with the bacterium Clavibacter toxicus contaminating hay and causing the poisoning of livestock known as ARGT.

Oat hay is an important export commodity. In 1996/97 about 225,000 tonnes worth $74 million was exported to dairies in Japan. Demand for Australian oat hay is increasing at about 10% pa. Most export hay is produced in South Australia and Western Australia.

Three separate incidents of cattle deaths in Japan attributed to annual ryegrass toxicity (ARGT) associated with Australian hay, jeopardised the export market in early 1996. An interim was protocol developed by a consultative group led by Department of Primary Industries and Energy (DPIE) to test the remaining stored hay from the 1995 crop. This restored confidence in Australian hay, but the hay industry was warned trade would be suspended if more toxic hay was exported to Japan.

To protect industry from the consequences of further outbreaks of ARGT in Japan, a collaborative project funded by RIRDC was established to develop sampling protocols to reject contaminated hay.

Research

There were two major components to the project. The first was to establish testing services in South Australia and Western Australia to enable hay samples to be tested for the bacterium. Research was then undertaken to assess different sampling strategies for stored and processed hay. Sampling strategies for hay crops and bales in the paddock, were evaluated. These studies were conducted in collaboration with export hay processors and utilised a large proportion of the export hay crops.

Outcome

Testing services were established in South Australia and Western Australia to process hay samples. Between June 1996 and June 1998, the services processed 24,192 hay and 4,879 paddock samples.

Recommendations for sampling protocols were developed for consideration by the export oat hay industry, and areas where further research would be beneficial were identified.

Implications

The future of the export oat hay industry is vulnerable unless it adopts an effective sampling protocol to manage the risk of ARGT. This will require a strong commitment by all participants, backed up by an effective quality control system.

RIRDC Project No: SAR-2A

Researcher: Alan McKay

Organisation: South Australian Research & Development Institute,  GPO Box 397,  Adelaide SA 5001

Contacts: Phone: (08) 8303 937   Fax: (08) 8303 9393

Haymaker – extension technology for lucerne management

Objective

To raise the returns of irrigated lucerne hay production through:

• A 30% increase in yield per unit area over three years by optimising water use and improved nutrition
• A reduction in production costs per tonne as a result of improved efficiencies in energy use
• An increase in the proportion of prime quality hay produced due to better pest control and improved haymaking techniques

This project was a continuation of the existing 1989 Peel and Upper Namoi Valley Irrigation Project based at Tamworth and Manilla, NSW. Field trials indicated that current irrigated lucerne hay production in the areas of the Peel, Upper Namoi and Hunter Valleys in NSW, and the Dawson-Callide, North Burnett and South Burnet districts in Queensland could be increased from 7.1 t/ha/year to 21 t/ha/year.

Research

The project used a multi-disciplinary format, relying on farmers’ irrigation and production records and computer analysis to evaluate and compare lucerne hay productivity. On-farm engineering and agronomic inspections by irrigation specialists and agronomists and the comparative analysis assisted growers to pin point deficiencies in their management and suggested the most appropriate improvements.

Outcome

The HAYMAKER PROJECT has enabled initial evaluation of sub-surface drip irrigation technology for lucerne production. As a result there have been significant installations of this technology in lucerne production districts of Central Queensland and Northern NSW.

Large improvements in water use efficiency and profitability have been achieved by many of the 54 cooperators at Tamworth/Manilla and 15 cooperators at Biloela in Central Queensland. The average gross margin of cooperators increased by almost $1200/ha over a four year period ending 1994/95. Note that drought and drastic water shortage severely curtailed the project in 1994-96.

Results immediately prior to this period however, indicate a cost benefit ratio estimated at around 15:1 for the $64,000 RIRDC funding.

Implications

The project has been of significant value to Lucerne growers in the target areas and produced valuable slipover effects in other Lucerne hay producing localities of NSW, Victoria, South Australian and Queensland. An unexpected but very pleasing outcome of the project is its recognition by the Murray Darling Basin Management Commission who have contracted staff to adapt HAYMAKER to other irrigated crops as Best Management Practice.

RIRDC Project No: DAN-88A

Researcher: Mr. Ian Collett

Organisation: NSW Agriculture, The Tamworth Centre for Crop Improvement,  RMB 944 Calala Lane,  TAMWORTH NSW 2340

Contacts: Phone: (02) 6763 1100   Fax: (02) 6763 1222

Project Title

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

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.

During the first four months of this project germplasm was identified with potential to improve disease resistance, increase dry matter production, and enhance hay quality. The germplasm, sourced from international oat nurseries and collections, represents lines developed and evaluated in Canada, the U.S., South America, and Europe. Approximately 500 lines were selected to evaluate stem rust resistance and agronomic characters in the winter sowing of the birdproof enclosure. Lines evaluated in the 1997 Introduction Nursery were selected for the Hay Observation Trial which will be sown at the Turretfield Research Centre to evaluate agronomic characters and potential dry matter production in 1998. An additional 50 lines were identified for the 1998 glasshouse crossing program to generate new hybrid oat combinations for hay end-use.

RIRDC Project No: SAR-8A

Start Date: 1 January 1998

Finish Date: 31 December 2000

Researcher: Dr. Pamela Zwer

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

Contacts: Phone: (08) 8303 9485  Fax: (08) 8303 9378   E-mail: zwer.pamela@pi.sa.gov.au
 
 

       Last updated: 17 August 1998 Copyright © RIRDC http://www.rirdc.gov.au/comp98/fodder.htm