A Comparison of Cereal and Cereal/Vetch Crops for Fodder Conservation

Experiments were conducted at three sites across southern New South Wales, Australia, over years (2008 to 2010), evaluate the agronomic and quality parameters of two wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare oat (Avena sativa L.) one triticale (× Triticosecale) variety, grown as monocultures or in combination with purple vetch (Vicia benghalensis L.). Harvests occurred when individual cereal varieties boot, anthesis, milk soft/mid dough stage maturity; though drought conditions lodging forced some harvests be abandoned. Yield species composition mixed crops measured digestibility, crude protein, water soluble carbohydrates fibre content determined. differed between reflective growing season rainfall, which varied from 185 479 mm. Drought 2008 associated low yield, inclusion high protein content. Conversely, very favourable 2010 yield content, lower Addition increased all 2009 2010, 50% 2008. Lodging was observed later cereal/vetch 2010.