Crop Trials Aim To Improve Forage Management Decisions

The provincial government’s Outeniqua Research Farm in the Western Cape is conducting trials to assist dairy farmers in making informed decisions when selecting forage crops. Sigrun Ammann spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the trials’ methods and objectives.

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The Western Cape Department of Agriculture’s Outeniqua Research Farm has played a valuable role over the years in helping farmers improve forage management for more efficient dairy production.

In 2016, two further projects were initiated in this regard: the so-called Elite Evaluation trials, which are assessing promising new ryegrass varieties, and a trial that is testing the use of varieties of plantain (Plantago lanceolato) and chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) as forage herbs.

ELITE TRIALS

According to Sigrun Ammann, who heads the trials, the Elite Evaluation trials were instituted to formulate independent data on the performance of modern ryegrass varieties.

“Farmers take a risk when incorporating new varieties into their forage systems, as these might not be suitable for their production conditions or adapted to the local climate.

“We’re trying to reduce some of this risk by evaluating these varieties [within] certain parameters, such as yield, persistence, flowering behaviour, forage quality and resistance to rust,” she explains.

Yield is influenced by a variety’s flowering behaviour; in other words, how long it lasts.

According to Ammann, this has an impact on forage quality.

“Fibre content usually goes up and forage quality down during flowering. The length of flowering and when it takes place is, however, region- and climate-specific. Hence the need for localised data.”