The aim of this competition is to promote the benefits of high quality hay and silage to all farmers with emphasis on the importance of feed quality in animal production and how to achieve feed quality in conserved forages.

The entry form is available for download below.

Conditions of entry

The aim of these awards is to promote the benefits of high quality hay and silage to all farmers with emphasis on the importance of feed quality in animal production and how to achieve feed quality in conserved forages.

• Awards will be based on feed quality analysis results from the NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) Feed Quality Service, with emphasis on metabolisable energy and crude protein. Results will also be compared with guidelines provided in I&I NSW Silage Note 4 and TopFodder Successful Silage manual.
• Awards will compare hays and silages in each category, i.e. one award for each crop or pasture type, not separate awards for hay and silage.
• Samples must be representative and must come from commercial lot size intended for feeding to animals. Minimum lot size 5 tonnes of product.
• Samples must be of forage (hay or silage) conserved and/or fed in 2011/2012.
• Limit of 4 entries (samples) per farm or producer.
• Samples (approx. 500 g) are best sent using a Post Paid Feed Quality Service (FQS) sample kit available from NSW DPI. Silage should be frozen in plastic bag then wrapped in newspaper before posting early in the week. If you don't have a green FQS bag, samples can be posted early in the week to:
    Feed Quality Service, NSW DPI
    Locked Bag 701
    Wagga Wagga  NSW  2650
• Awards will be presented at the NSW Grasslands Society Annual Conference to be held in Wagge Wagga on 24-26 July 2012.
• It is desirable for all entrants to keep photos and an example of entries until after awards are announced.
• Winners agree to cooperate with the organisers (NSW DPI and Grasslands Society of NSW) to conduct relevant field days, press and media following the awards.

Closing date is 6 July 2012.

Note:  Results of early submissions will be sent out at the end of each month.

We thank the sponsors of these awards:

• Integrated Packaging
• New Holland
• Pioneer Hi-Bred Australia
• NSW Feed Quality Service

$5,000 worth of prizes.

Further information

Phone (02) 6938 1957 (lab)  or  (02) 4939 8948.

Entry form