AustrAliAn oAten hAyThe Effective Fibre Source

for Livestock

InsIde:Oaten Hay 2-5

Feed Analysis 5

AFG Story 6

How Oat Hay is produced 6

Bale Sizes 7

Contact Details 8

specIal poInts of Interest:• Highly digestible fibre

• Palatable• Low in Potassium• Consistent quality

• Safe to feed• Compliments Alfalfa Hay

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 fibre2. A palatable source for livestock3. A palatable source for livestock feed4. A reputation as the “sweet hay”5. A texture soft to touch6. Low levels of potassium7. Low levels of nitrate nitrogen (<500ppm)8. Safe to feed9. The ability to be fed alone or as part of a total mix ration10. Non-GMO varieties as grown in Australia11. Low levels of contamination12. Consistent quality

Oaten hay has been traded internationally as a feed source from Australia since 1990. 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

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HIgHly dIgestIble fIbres

palatabIlItyKnown as “sweet” Hay

soft to toucH

low In potassIum

palatable to dry cows and transition cows

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.

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.

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.

AFG’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.

The reputation of AFG’s “soft to touch” oaten hay is the 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 N2 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

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.

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.

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:

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%Dairy cows feeding on Australian oaten hay

Resting dairy cows using 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

Southern Australia is charactarised by long, hot summers and cool, mild

winters... no irrigation and low N2 inputs produces high quality oaten hay

Oaten hay is used as a prime source of fibre and compliments the use of

alfalfa, not competes with it

Oaten hay is used specifically for feeding dry stock and transition

cow groups where palatability is of the utmost importance.

Low inputs of fertiliser and chemicals on oaten hay from Australia

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low In nItrate levels

safe to feed

consIstent QualIty

can be fed alone or as a part of a total mIx ratIon

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.

Low N2 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.

AFG’s Quality Management System (QMS) program enhances this by providing a full quality control protocol in the growing, testing, processing

and shipment of the product.

A major feature of the QMS is full traceability of the product, which gives users of AFG hay a guarantee that any query will be answered promptly and accurately.

AFG’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, AFG provides oaten hay through its 3 export grades which is consistent and accurate.Long experience in exporting oaten hay has proven AFG’s ability to meet customers expectations and consistently exceed them.

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:

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.

AFG oaten hay is consistent in quality

Australian oaten hay is naturally low in nitrate nitrogen

varIetIes grown In australIa are non-gmo

QualIty assurance

typIcal analysIs of oaten Hay by grade

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.

Through its Quality Management System program, AFG 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 AFG 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.

AFG is aware of market sensitivity to all farming inputs and through the QMS, crops are fully traceable to give buyers peace of mind.

Oaten hay can be fed as a sole feed or part of a total mix ration

Oaten hay variety trials

A product from a low input system helps dairy farmers

know their cows and milk are not threatened in any way. grade

Water soluble carbohydrates

Digestibility

ADF

NDF

Metabolisable energy (MJ ME)

Crude Protein

Nitrates (PPM)

Potassium

Colour

Moisture

afg premium

≥ 18%

≥ 60%

≤ 34%

≤ 56%

8 - 11

4 - 8%

< 500

< 1.9%

Excellent

14%

afg standard

≥ 15%

≥ 58%

≤ 37%

≤ 59%

8 - 11

4 - 8%

< 500

< 1.9%

Good

14%

afg No. 2

≥ 12%

≥ 55%

≤ 40%

≤ 62%

8 - 11

4 - 8%

< 500

< 1.9%

Average

14%

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wHo Is tHe australIan forage group?

How Is oaten Hay produced?

wHere australIan fodder?

The australian forage group is a company formed by four export hay companies who are leaders in their industry. The company AFG 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.

AFG source their hay only from dry land farming areas where irrigation is not used to take the pressure off the precious re-source... water.

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.

Australia’s current forage and cereal cropping capacity is in excess of 30 million tonnes.

QualIty assured

bale sIze range

Oaten hay produced by AFG 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 AFG’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.

Each bale is tagged with individual identification details

Oaten hay feed value is determined from NIR scanning

Oaten hay samples from every line of hay is kept for display and

future reference.

South Australia and Western Australia are the key export oaten hay producing

states in Australia

Every bale of hay is fully traceable through the

QMS system

Export oaten hay from AFG has moisture content at 12%

and under.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

23 - 25kg Bale

470kg Bale

23 - 25kg Bale pack unitized

470kg bales loaded into container

23 - 25kg Bale pack unitized & shrink

wrapped

23 - 25kg Bale pack unitized & loaded

into container

Bales sizes range from 25kg to 50kg and 400 & 600kg.

PO Box 343, Balaklava 5461 South Australia AUSTRALIA27 Edith Terrace, Balaklava 5461 South Australia AUSTRALIA

Administration Office :

phone : +61 8 8862 0000 fax : +61 8 8862 2080email : vintex@bigpond.com web : www.australianforagegroup.com.au

Time Zone : GMT + 9.5 hrs

Sales & Marketing :

mr rory coffeyPO Box 225, Palmyra 6957 Western Australia AUSTRALIA

phone : +61 8 9319 9214email : vintex@bigpond.com