Inaugural fodder festival draws a crowd

Fodder contractors, traders and producers across three states saw the latest mowing, raking, tedding and baling technology at the 2018 Fodder Festival held at Elmore, Victoria, on August 29.

The inaugural event was hosted by the Australian Fodder Industry Association (AFIA) in conjunction with Dairy Australia and Murray Dairy.

It drew more than 400 attendees from NSW, Victoria and South Australia to see the paddock demonstrations and hear a range of guest speakers on technology, animal nutrition, silage management and market updates.

AFIA chief executive officer, John McKew, said the event aimed to bridge the gap between fodder producers and end users.

Despite dry seasonal conditions, a well-watered pasture was reserved for the machinery demonstrations on the day.

Visitors were able to see the Kverneland 4336 CR mower conditioner, Krone Easy Cut R360 mower, CLAAS Disco 3200 mower, CLAAS Volto 60 tedder, CLAAS Liner 2700 rake, Krone Swadro TC760 rake, John Deere 460R Premium large round baler, McHale orbital wrapper, McHale Fusion Plus baler, and the KUHN FBP3135 bale wrapper.

There was also information on mixed rations and mixer wagons from KUHN.

A total of 41 bales of 2016 oaten hay and barley header tailings, averaging 450kg per bale and donated by the O’Sullivan family, were auctioned off for $100 per bale, with the proceeds donated to beyondblue.

Hay Australia donated hay packs, compressed for export, which were bought by United Dairy Farmers of Victoria president, Adam Jenkins, for $160 per bale. The proceeds of the sale also went to beyondblue.

Rick Stadler from FeedTest Agrifood Technology, Werribee (VIC), said this year’s hay season was forecasted to be similar to 2006 when many stored fodder supplies self-combusted due to high sugar, yeast and mould loads.

“In the 2006 season, a lot of fires didn’t occur until January and February due to the microbial load growing under high temperatures,” Stadler said.

“With our long curing periods, it is well worth doing a test (costing $12.10) for yeasts and moulds when storing hay to get an idea of what that microbial load is.

“Being a short growing season, we may well have high sugars and, combined with a high bacterial load, when the temperature creeps up, there is a potential danger for shed fires later on.”

Stadler advised taking random core samples or samples from 10 per cent of the bales.

He said producers could choose to sample either in the standing crop, windrow, at baling, in the paddock, on the truck or in the shed.

“Six weeks after baling is the right time for testing as it should be a stable product by then,” Stadler said.

“Testing gives the crude protein, metabolisable energy, neutral detergent fibre (measures all cell wall material), and acid detergent fibre (indigestible fibre for ruminants).

“The factors affecting test results can include maturity; species; harvest and storage; environment and climate; soil fertility and cultivar.”

Independent ruminant nutritionist, Dan Hoch (of Echuca, VIC) told fodder contractors to focus on making the highest quality fodder.

He urged contractors to use a feed analysis, costing $48, on their fodder.

“Cows and sheep eat more fodder if it is high in energy and low in neutral detergent fibre,” he said.

“Hay has the benefit of containing useful protein and is key in driving profitability.”

Integrated Packaging product manager, Nelani Roux, told delegates that feeding cows with five per cent spoiled silage could reduce production by up to 1.8kg of milk per cow, per day.

Roux said the goal of using a silage additive was to manipulate the fermentation process and reduce oxygen to conserve and stabilise the silage.

When selecting a silage additive, look for a bacterial count high enough to dominate wild bacteria and manipulate fermentation, she said.

“Bacteria are pH and temperature sensitive so ensure the additive is active throughout the whole range of the silage process.

“No silage additive can be a quick fix to make up for bad silage practices. Rather, they should be used in conjunction with good silage management.”

Roux said an improved rate and efficiency of fermentation will lead to the elimination of unwanted spoilage organisms, improved maintenance of the digestibility of protein and energy, reduced dry matter losses and improved aerobic stability.