Winter forage crops in the New England tablelands

Abstract

Ten cruciferous and gramineous forage crops were compared in the winters of 1958 to 1960 at Armidale, New South Wales. Mean total yields (pooled with respect to sampling dates) of crops each year were Giant Kangaroo rape 3650, Algerian or Acacia oats 3090, Hungry Gap kale 2490 and Thousand Head kale 1860 lb dry matter (DM) per acre. In 1959 and 1960 oats yielded 23 per cent more than rape (p< 0.05).Regrowth of rape and kale (var. Hungry Gap) was 800 -1300 lb DM per acre if first cut in early winter. Total yields (initial growth plus regrowth) of all crops were generally higher if first cut late in winter.