THE Australian Wool Testing Authority has been making hay while the sun shines.
Managing director Michael Jackson said AWTA's future was no longer fully dependent on wool but rather as a testing house for a range of commodities and products, the latest being hay and silage.
Ten years ago, the authority's non-wool activities accounted for 5 per cent of the company's revenue. This year, non-wool revenue has grown to 25 per cent and is set to increase further.
Early last year, AWTA bought the Werribee-based grain-testing company Agrifood Technology and diversification continued in September, when it bid successfully for the Victorian Department of Primary Industries' FeedTest business and licence.
From a small beginning 20 years ago, FeedTest, based in Hamilton, has developed into a viable business, testing hay, silage, pasture and a range of livestock feedstuffs.
For a fee of $55, farmers can have a sample of hay or other livestock feed analysed for protein, digestibility, moisture and energy contents.
FeedTest became a boon during the drought as livestock producers sought to maximise scarce fodder.
AWTA is hoping to build on that experience to expand the service nationally.
Business development manager Rick Stadler said a move into New Zealand was also possible.
Using near-infrared spectroscopy technology, FeedTest produces results within three days.
For $77, a faster one-day service is available.
Before NIR, testing for protein, digestibility and energy content was carried out "wet", which was labour-intensive and took up to three weeks for results.
NIR, as its name suggests, provides an infrared pattern calibrated for a variety of feedstuffs.
Mr Stadler said FeedTest was operating from Werribee, with a staff of four handling up to 200 tests a day. He said FeedTest was now universally used by hay exporters.
Research organisations were the main users of the pasture tests, while lotfeeders and farmers were becoming increasingly dependent on tests for hay, silage and other feedstuffs.
AWTA has retained the same sample bag developed by DPI.
This postage-paid plastic bag provides sampling details.
Mr Stadler said for an effective FeedTest result, samples should reach Werribee within 24 hours of collection.
"It would help if farmers checked first with despatch times from their local post office," he said.
"It is no good taking a silage sample on Friday if it won't reach Werribee until Monday."
Sample bags are available from DPI and Agrifood Technology offices. For details, phone (03) 9742 0555.
