Date of Publication:
June 24, 2019

Publication:
The Land

Excerpt:
Agronomists are urging graziers to consider gibberellic acid as a boost for their pasture growth in the cold months as many move out of cropping, seeking livestock cashflow.

The data is in on the benefits of applying gib acid after trials in the Central Tablelands. It is found to be effective on boosting growth in grasses such as phalaris, cocksfoot and perennial rye, with the boost in dry matter between 300-500kg/hectare possible after application.

Agronomist Jesh Smith, Growmore, Young, said gib acid was “a cheap way to get feed". “It is a natural hormone that helps a plant grow bigger cells and therefore bigger leaves.” He said the cost of gib acid was about $10/ha, and so it was the “best bang for buck” in winter as the temperatures dropped and pastures were under pressure. He recommended a three to four week holding period.

Read the rest of the article: https://www.theland.com.au/story/6236758/gib-acid-a-great-winter-tonic-for-pastures

Date of Publication:
November 15, 2016

Publication:
Australian Government Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC)
(Now called AgriFutures Australia)

Excerpt:
The Australian alpaca industry has been through the speculative stage of new industry development and has emerged with a much more professional focus. Alpaca is classified as ‘maturing’ and growth prospects are described as ‘neutral to positive’. Fibre production has increased from 102 tonnes in 2006-07 to 242 tonnes in 2015-16. Meat production has emerged as a serious addition to commercial enterprises –32 tonnes of alpaca meat were marketed to restaurants in 2015-16 and strong future growth is forecast. When returns from stud animal sales, including export, fibre and meat are added into the production mix industry has the potential to be profitable.

Read the rest of the article: https://www.agrifutures.com.au/wp-content/uploads/publications/17-005.pdf

Date of Publication:
May 17, 2019

Publication:
The Better Breeding Blog

Excerpt:
Last week’s post on The Hardy-Weinberg Equlibrium and its Implications covered the five external forces that shift that equilibrium to cause a change in gene and genotypic frequencies: selection; gene mutations; migration in and out of a population; random genetic drift; and non-random matings.

Three of these are controllable by breeders and routinely applied in breeding programmes: selection; migration in and out; and non-random matings.

The other two — gene mutations and random genetic drift — are completely random forces beyond anyone’s control, and patterns of inheritance are ultimately down to the sheer chance of gene segregation during meiosis and ‘luck of the draw’.

Gene mutations are extremely rare events and, should they even occur at all, are as likely to have good, bad or indifferent effects . Any mutation that does appear is most likely to be of a single allele, as the chance of two or more mutations occurring simultaneously, much less being inherited together, is even more remote. Such an allele, or any other rare allele for that matter, may then be subject to that other random force: random genetic drift.

Read the rest of the article: https://betterbreeding.solutions/index.php/blog/random-genetic-drift

Date of Publication:
July 06, 2016

Publication:
AgWeb

Excerpt:
Hay is made to feed livestock in periods of forage dormancy. Many times hay is packaged in the form of a big round bale. This method of harvest is preferred by many farmers because of low labor needs and little need for facilities or infrastructure to feed the hay. One of the largest downfalls to hay in the round bale form is the weathering that occurs when the bales are stored outside.

The round shape of the bale results in a large surface area on the outside of the bale for weathering to occur. The figure below illustrates that 1/3 of the entire bale resides in the outer 6″ of a 5.5 foot bale.

Read the rest of the article: https://www.agweb.com/article/storing-hay-properly-naa-university-news-release/

Date of Publication:
unknown

Publication:
Australian Fodder Industry Association

Excerpt:
“Murphy’s Law says that Once you’ve baled your hay it will rain!” says Frank Mickan, Pasture and Fodder Conservation Specialist, NRE, Ellinbank. Many farmers are starting to realise the benefits of feeding or selling higher quality hay in recent years because they have learnt that higher quality means more meat or milk production. As a result some farmers are risking making slightly earlier hay and so increasing the risk of meeting rain head on! However earlier hay making can be greatly assisted by utilising mower conditioners and tedders.

Unfortunately the higher the quality is the hay, the higher the losses when bales become wet from rain. This higher quality is due to the higher amount energy (eg. water soluble carbohydrates) and protein in the plant. When hay becomes wet plant respiration, leaching, and possibly mould, microbial and yeast growth later on, all result in dry matter and quality losses. So rain damage is to be avoided or minimised as much as possible.

Following are some considerations which may be of assistance to you.

Read the rest of the article: https://www.afia.org.au/index.php/resources/hayfactsheets/making-quality-hay/144-managing-hay-after-it-rains

Date of Publication:
unknown

Publication:
Australian Fodder Industry Association

Excerpt:
The accuracy of fodder analysis depends on the sample you send to the laboratory.  It is critical that the sample represents the average composition of the “lot” of fodder sampled, otherwise the laboratory tests will not be useful.

A “lot” is defined as hay or silage taken from the same cutting, at the same stage of maturity, the same species (pure or mixed) and variety, the same paddock, and harvested within 48 hours.  Other factors influencing the definition of a “lot” include rain damage, weed content, soil type, treatment after cutting and storage effects.  A “lot” of baled hay or cubes should not exceed 200 tonnes.

Read the rest of the article: https://www.afia.org.au/index.php/resources/hayfactsheets/making-quality-hay/146-how-to-take-fodder-samples-for-analysis

Date of Publication:
unknown

Publication:
Australian Fodder Industry Association

Excerpt:
Heating is most likely to damage hay stored at moistures above 30%. Minimum changes occur if it is baled at 20% or less although if it is uniformly dry it can be baled and stored safely at 25%. The 25% level is the average moisture in curing hay at which it is dry enough overall to avoid moulding or hot spots that occur with variations in moisture content that are usually at higher average moisture. Large square bales need to be baled at a lower moisture content than small square or round bales.

Read the rest of the article: https://www.afia.org.au/index.php/resources/hayfactsheets/making-quality-hay/145-guide-to-moisture-content-of-hay

Date of Publication:
June 1, 2018

Publication:
The Land

Excerpt:
Drought-hit producers are being reminded to be aware of what they are feeding their stock.

Recent testing has shown huge variability in protein and energy levels which has meant some stock could be continuing to lose condition, despite hand feeding.

Central Tablelands Local Land Services officer, Brett Littler, Mudgee, is urging producers to take the guesswork out of what they are feeding by testing.

“We have seen metabolisable energy ranging in some hays from 5.6 megajoules per kilogram, which is below maintenance, through to 10MJ/kg, which is really good feed,” Mr Littler said. 

“Similarly, protein variations can be seen from 16 per cent through to below the level of reporting, some is very low quality with less than two pc protein. 

Read the rest of the article: https://www.theland.com.au/story/5432345/testing-fodder-can-avoid-stockfeed-lucky-dip-risk/?cs=4961