Forage Value Index

The Forage Value Index (FVI) is a tool that helps Australian dairy farmers and their advisors to make more informed and profitable decisions when selecting ryegrass cultivars. It provides an accurate, reliable and independent assessment of the potential economic value of ryegrass cultivars across three different species (Perennial, Annual and Italian ryegrass) in a number of dairy-producing regions across Australia.

For more information on how to use the FVI, download the FAQs fact sheet. 

Please note that usage of the FVI tables is subject to the Terms and Conditions.

2023 FVI Tables available

The Forage Value Index (FVI) has now been updated for the 2023 pasture sowing season. Lists are now available for Perennial, Annual and Italian ryegrass with new trial sites added to the FVI for all three species this year. When choosing varieties for sowing in 2023, use the FVI lists for your local region to help choose the most profitable cultivar.

In 2022, South Coast NSW and North Coast NSW were added as new regions for the first time in addition to the original four regions in South West Victoria, Gippsland, Northern Victoria and Tasmania. 

A detailed factsheet to describe all the latest updates to the FVI in 2023 has been created and can be accessed here. Farmers and service providers are encouraged to refer to this factsheet while using the FVI for more information on the correct way to use the tables.

FVI Data

Meat and Livestock Australia’s Pasture Trial Network (PTN) is a key partner in the FVI and is the primary data source for the index. Individual trial data at a cultivar level of the trials used in the FVI’s multi environment, multi harvest index are also available for farmers and producers to access. We encourage FVI users also to look at the individual trial results of several species from sites that may be of relevance to your farm or situation. 

Annual Ryegrass FVI

Italian Ryegrass FVI

Perennial Ryegrass FVI

About the Forage Value Index

The Forage Value Index (FVI) rating system helps Australian dairy farmers and their advisors make more informed decisions when selecting cultivars. It provides an accurate, reliable and independent assessment of the potential economic value of perennial ryegrass cultivars in different dairy regions of south-east Australia. Selection of better performing cultivars helps to increase pasture productivity at key times of the year and ultimately, farm profitability.

Every year, the FVI is updated with new trial data to ensure the rankings are as accurate as possible and that any new commercially available cultivars are represented.

The FVI is based on independently-calculated performance values for seasonal dry matter production and economic values. Performance values are determined by trial data from the Pasture Trial Network, while economic values are determined by economic analysis of case study farms in different dairying regions in south-eastern Australia.

The FVI for each cultivar is expressed using a colour coding system, with the green colour representing the best performing cultivars in each region. The FVI ranks cultivars according to their colour coding and user-nominated attributes, such as seasonal production, ploidy, heading date and endophyte. Only cultivars listed in the Pasture Seed Database and confirmed as a cultivar by the Australian Seed Federation are used in the FVI.

Farmers with a particular interest in how a cultivar performs at a specific time of the year relative to other cultivars can use the FVI seasonal performance tables for the relevant FVI season. For example, if winter pasture growth is of greater importance on a farm due to its calving pattern, then the FVI table on winter seasonal performance will be important to consider when selecting the most suitable cultivar.

Partners

The Forage Value Index has been a collaborative effort between Dairy Australia, Agriculture Victoria, Australian Seed Federation, Meat and Livestock Australia and DairyNZ.