About Us

What is the Pasture Trials Network (PTN)?

The Pasture Trials Network (PTN) offers independent, robust grazing forage/feedbase variety performance information.

PTN data is gathered through a network of trials run across temperate areas of Australia using an industry-developed trials protocol. PTN has been running various pasture variety trials with over a decade of data available. Many trials are currently in progress, with performance data made available as they are completed and uploaded every few months.

PTN data and trial report information free to all, with no cost to access information.

Since the programs’ inception, over 90 trials have been listed on the MLA PTN web tool covering eight major pasture species: annual, Italian and perennial ryegrass, cocksfoot, tall fescue, Lucerne, sub-clover and chicory, with the dataset to continue to expand in species and regions.

 

Industry funded and supported

The PTN is a partnership between Dairy Australia (DA), Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) and leading Australian seed companies (see below) that supports livestock producers, advisors, and supply chain stakeholders to improve awareness and uptake of advanced temperate pasture varieties.

  • AGF Seeds
  • Cropmark
  • DLF Seeds
  • Barenbrug
  • RAGT Australia
  • S&W Seeds
  • Upper Murray Seeds
  • Valley Seeds

 

Where did the Pasture trials network begin? 

After a pilot Pasture Variety Trials Network (PVTN) scheme was set up in 2011, the independently coordinated Pasture Trial Network (PTN) was established in 2014 as a joint venture between Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), the Australian Seed Federation (ASF) and ten participating seed companies. In 2020, Dairy Australia also became a program funder, using relevant trial data to generate Dairy Australia’s Forage Value Index (FVI).

Trials have been conducted in New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia and continue to be conducted in expanding region zones.

© 2026 Pasture Trials Network