PASTURE selection has an added tool following the launch of the Australian Forage Value Index.
The index ranks the performance of 20 of Australia’s most popular ryegrass varieties, relative to the typical climatic conditions within each dairy region.
It was developed by Dairy Australia, in partnership with Agriculture Vic, Meat & Livestock Australia and the Australian Seed Federation, to be an independent, industry-endorsed economic index, based on seasonal dry matter production.
Dairy Australia farm profit and capability group manager Chris Murphy said there had been no independent method to assess the agronomic performance of the perennial ryegrass cultivars commercially available, until this release.
“With little independent information on the traits and capabilities of these existing cultivars, farmers tend to stick with what they know and have used, which can result in lost production opportunity and reduced incentive to invest in new pasture cultivars,” Mr Murphy said.
These figures are determined through trial data and case studies, with economic values judged by the change in profit for each kilogram of dry matter.
Each cultivar must have seasonal yield data from at least three, three-year trials.
- Details: dairyaustralia.com.au/FVI
