Project Site: Fairview Research Farm
Research Program Manager: Dr. Akim Omokanye
From: Peace Country Beef & Forage Association 2018 Annual Report
The economic value of cereal forage for feeding beef cattle is dependent on both its yield and feeding value (i.e., crude protein, minerals, detergent fibre, energy, digestibility and animal performance). Oats is one of the cereals widely grown for forages in the Peace. PCBFA continues to carry out field trials for the purpose of identifying oat varieties that have better forage production for livestock producers in the Peace. As part of the Regional Silage Variety Trials (RSVTs), several new oat varieties as they become available are tested along with older ones for adaption, forage yield and quality. The RSVTs generate and provide scientifically sound oat variety performance information to livestock producers, industry and extension specialists. In addition to the findings of the oat variety trial from Fairview being presented here, the results from the RSVTs across the different trial sites in the province will also be reported in the Alberta Seed Guide (www.seed.ab.ca).
Methods
The study site was at the Fairview Research Farm (NW5-82-3W6) on RR #35, MD of Fairview. The site had been in alfalfa hay for more than 15 years. The site was sprayed with Roundup and plowed in the fall before. This was later disced and harrowed in the spring before seeding. Soil tests at 0-6” showed an organic matter of 7.6 %, a pH of 6.9 and an electrical conductivity of 0.2 dS/m.
Twelve (12) forage type oat varieties were arranged in a randomized complete block design in 4 replications in small plots. The 12 varieties tested are:
1. Murphy - forage oat (used as check in this study)
2. CDC Seabiscuit - milling oat, medium maturing