The Effective Fibre Source for Livestock

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1 Australian oaten hay The Effective Fibre Source for Livestock Inside: Oaten Hay 2-5 Feed Analysis 5 Story 6 How Oat Hay is produced 6 Bale Sizes 7 Contact Details 8 Oaten Hay (Avena Sativa) is an annual grass cereal that is used as a prime source of digestible fibre for livestock. The unique qualities of oaten hay as a conserved fibre source are: 1. Highly digestible fibre 2. A palatable source for livestock 3. A palatable source for livestock feed 4. A reputation as the sweet hay 5. A texture soft to touch 6. Low levels of potassium 7. Low levels of nitrate nitrogen (<500ppm) 8. Safe to feed 9. The ability to be fed alone or as part of a total mix ration 10. Non-GMO varieties as grown in Australia 11. Low levels of contamination 12. Consistent quality Oaten hay has been traded internationally as a feed source from Australia since It is known by dairy farmers throughout both Asia and Australia as a reliable and safe feed which cows will readily eat. Oaten crop prior to cutting Oaten hay ready for feeding Special points of interest: Highly digestible fibre Palatable Low in Potassium Consistent quality Safe to feed Compliments Alfalfa Hay

2 Highly Digestible Fibres The fibre in oaten hay is highly digestible. It stimulates rumen function and thereby aids protein and nutrient use as well as increasing milk volume. Livestock can maintain high performance on a diet balanced with oaten hay. The features of oaten hay fibre that make it so suitable are: 1. Physically effective Neutral Detergent Fibre (pendf) 2. Potentially lower NDF levels compared t0 alternative fibre sources and better palatability than many other hays with high pendf. Dairy cows feeding on Australian oaten hay Oaten hay has higher palatability than alfalfa, straw or other cereal hays This product has the edge on other ingredients in the attempt to increase intake and can have impact on both graphs. Oaten hay is a low potassium cereal hay with high palatability, thus reducing post calving metabolic problems. Key factors for post calving metabolic problems are: Oaten hay is used as a prime source of fibre and compliments the use of alfalfa, not competes with it 1. Retained placentas, leads to metritis. Farmers can lose some cows particularly in summer where temperatures > 30 C (up to 10% die) 2. Metritis - loss of milk production can be 50% for the lactation if not detected early 3. Milk fever - 10% of cows get culled and remaining cows have loss of production of 10% Palatability When presented with oaten hay, animals will readily consume it, whether it is a sole feed or component of a ration. The high palatability of oaten hay reduces feed rejection. Very little oaten hay will be left uneaten in front of animals compare to many other feeds. Palatable to dry cows and Transition Cows Oaten hay is used specifically for feeding dry stock and transition cow groups where palatability is of the utmost importance. Known as sweet Hay Traditional oaten hay breeding programs in Australia have produced hay varieties specifically designed for dairy feeding. These varieties are sweet to taste and are charactarised by high levels of water soluble carbohydrates (WSC). For the livestock, WSC contributes to metabolised energy levels which are utilised for production and body maintenance. A high level of WSC is also a good indicator of the plant nutrient balance and smell that influence the animals preference for choosing and eating oaten hay. Resting dairy cows using oaten hay Oaten hay is used specifically for feeding dry stock and transition cow groups where palatability is of the utmost importance. Transition groups have reduced feed intake level which can lead to post calving problems. Adequate feed intake can help avoid many of the post calving metabolic problems seen in dairy herds, which can make oaten hay a valuable part of your business much like it is in the Australian dairy industry. Soft to touch s oaten hay is described by customers as soft to touch. It is suggested that this too contributes to the animals preference for oaten hay, thereby promoting full consumption at feed presentation. Southern Australia is charactarised by long, hot summers and cool, mild winters... no irrigation and low N 2 inputs produces The reputation of s soft to touch oaten hay is the high quality oaten hay result of on-going advances in hay varieties and hay making techniques in Australia and have contributed to Australian Fodder Group s oaten hay reputation as a highly profitable fodder source. The Australian environment also plays a part in this feature of oaten hay. The Mediterranean style climate in South Australia is charactarised by long hot summers and cool mild winters, which produce a clean, green and natural product with low N 2 inputs, no irrigation and high quality. Buyers believe this feature is unique to Australian oaten hay and is the basis for its ready acceptance by livestock Low in Potassium By world standards, Australian farming uses low fertiliser and chemical inputs and one crop per year. This reflects in the quality of an oaten hay crop, being low in volume per hectare, but of very high quality. Along with low fertiliser inputs, potassium levels in oaten hay are on average below 1.9%. This is important for dairy farmers specifically when formulating feed rations. Lower potassium levels also contribute to a reduced risk of milk fever occurring on a diet that includes oaten hay. Fig. 1: Pre-calving nutrition highlighting perennial problem - the cow needs intake and they don t want to eat it. Fig 2: Metabolise Energy Effect Post Calving - the deficiency of energy in early lactation Low inputs of fertiliser and chemicals on oaten hay from Australia page 2 page 3

3 Low in nitrate levels Varieties grown in Australia are Non-GMO The low fertiliser style of farming in Australia produces oaten hay that is low in nitrate nitrogen. The levels of nitrate nitrogen in oaten hay are generally below 500ppm. Oaten hay varieties used in Australia are bred without using Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO s) and techniques. Plant breeders use traditional plant breeding methods to ensure full acceptance by customers in overseas markets. Quality Assurance Safe to Feed Low N 2 inputs result in a product which is safe to feed. A clean, green farming system and product helps farmers know their animals and milk is not threatened in any way that may be of concern to them and their customers. s Quality Management System (QMS) program enhances this by providing a full quality control protocol in the growing, testing, processing Consistent Quality oaten hay is consistent in quality and shipment of the product. A major feature of the QMS is full traceability of the product, which gives users of hay a guarantee that any query will be answered promptly and accurately. s grading system is fully objective and repeatable, providing accurate measurements of specific hay characteristics to grade hay quality. Through the use of vision scanning technology and NIR (near infrared spectroscopy) feed analysers, provides oaten hay through its 3 export grades which is consistent and accurate. Long experience in exporting oaten hay has proven s ability to meet customers expectations and consistently exceed them. Can be fed alone or as a part of a total mix ration Oaten hay is accepted by animals in any feeding format. the palatability and digestibility of oaten hay make it acceptable in any feeding situation. It can be used to balance rations successfully with fibre without limiting inputs of other critical nutrients. Benefits of oaten hay in each feeding format include: Australian oaten hay is naturally low in nitrate nitrogen A product from a low input system helps dairy farmers know their cows and milk are not threatened in any way. Oaten hay can be fed as a sole feed or part of a total mix ration 1. Sole intake: Safe to use and contains a balanced package of energy, protein, and adequate fibre plus good levels of minerals for dry stock. 2. Total mixed ration: An excellent, physically effective fibre source that maintains its integrity, is palatable, cost effective, and does not reduce energy and protein density like other fibres such as straw. 3. Transition period: Low levels of potassium, is highly palatable and one of the only hays that pregnant & lactating animals will eat in adequate levels. Through its Quality Management System program, works with contributing hay growers to ensure the best methods and most appropriate techniques are used to produce a consistent and high quality product. Growers are educated in quality control and acceptable standards for on-farm hay growing and staff continually monitor crops to ensure there are no contamination issues. The low input style of farming in southern Australia means the use of chemicals to control weeds and insects is generally limited in nature and a full crop history is provided before purchase of the hay. is aware of market sensitivity to all farming inputs and through the QMS, crops are fully traceable to give buyers peace of mind. Typical Analysis of Oaten hay by grade Grade Water soluble carbohydrates Digestibility ADF NDF Metabolisable energy (MJ ME) Crude Protein Nitrates (PPM) Potassium Colour Moisture Premium 18% 60% 34% 56% Excellent Oaten hay variety trials Standard 15% 58% 37% 59% Good No. 2 12% 55% 40% 62% Average page 4 page 5

4 Who is the Australian Forage Group? The Australian Forage Group is a company formed by four export hay companies who are leaders in their industry. The company has been created solely for the purpose of exporting to the Middle East so prospective consumers can be assured of both product quality & quantity availability at all times. The combined production capacity of the group is a minimum of 400,000 tonnes annually. The group has the ability to promptly respond to increased consumer demand. In addition the geographic spread on production capacity reduces exposure to crop failure. source their hay only from dry land farming areas where irrigation is not used to take the pressure off the precious re-source... water. Where Australian Fodder? South Australia and Western Australia are the key export oaten hay producing states in Australia Quality Assured Oaten hay produced by is subject to a quality management system called QMS. This provides control on all aspects of hay supply from the farm paddock to packing into a container. A major feature of s QMS is the ability to provide full traceability of the product. This is achieved through individual bale tagging and identity and comprehensive record keeping and provides a quality guarantee to international customers. Oaten hay feed value is determined from NIR scanning Bale size range Oaten hay samples from every line of hay is kept for display and future reference. Each bale is tagged with individual identification details Every bale of hay is fully traceable through the QMS system Bales sizes range from 25kg to 50kg and 400 & 600kg. Australia s current forage and cereal cropping capacity is in excess of 30 million tonnes. How is Oaten Hay Produced? 23-25kg Bale unitized unitized & shrink wrapped unitized & loaded into container Seeding of crops occurs in May & June Hay cutting and baling occurs from October to December Typical storage of hay takes place on a farm Export oaten hay from has moisture content at 12% and under. Oaten Hay is grown in the southern regions of Australia that are characterised by modest winter rainfall and long, dry and hot summers. Oats grown in these regions tend to produce high feed value crops which are very palatable to the cow. Chemical and fertiliser inputs into crops are low by world standards. This produces a crop low in nitrate nitrogen and potassium. 470kg Bale 470kg bales loaded into container page 6 page 7

5 PO Box 343, Balaklava 5461 South Australia AUSTRALIA 27 Edith Terrace, Balaklava 5461 South Australia AUSTRALIA Administration Office : Phone : Fax : vintex@bigpond.com Web : Time Zone : GMT hrs Sales & Marketing : Mr Rory Coffey PO Box 225, Palmyra 6957 Western Australia AUSTRALIA Phone : vintex@bigpond.com