Comparisons between legumes and cereal crops from 2019-20 and 2020-21 were conducted by the group, with results indicating a decrease in carbohydrates for wet season feed.

Feed Central general manager Cieran Maxwell said the results highlighted the importance of measuring feed to manage it.

"Knowing the feed test results, gives you a better indication of how much value you are getting from a product in a ration and what gains you can expect from it," he said.

Feed Central's quality assurance coordinator Kimberly Detemers the comparisons show a significant decrease in water soluble carbohydrates, the sugar content that helps with palatability, across all cereal hay this season.

READ MORE:

Protein and metabolizable energy remained similar across both seasons due to the quality of the crops, but the digestibility component of the feed test suffered significantly.

"We were dealing with thicker stems and bulkier crops and that has an impact on the digestibility, which means animals are using more energy to process that product," Ms Detmers said.

Feed Central found higher fibre content in both cereal and legume crops. The relative feed value of Lucerne remained similar to last season.

"We observed a relative feed value drop of 19 points and 12.7 points in barley and oaten hay respectively," Ms Detmers said.

OTHER NEWS:

"Most notable was the drop of relative feed value in wheaten hay, by 28 points."

Barley and wheaten hay show a poorer metabolizable energy result this season in comparison to the last; with oaten hay the most stable value compared to last season.

Starch values have increased across cereal hay crops this season in comparison to last.

Mr Maxwell said Feed Central had introduced a new-look prepaid post feed test sample bag allowing people to collect a feed sample and send it in for testing with free post

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: