In a January 2019 commercial milling trial by Quaker Oats on behalf of the GIWA Oat Council, the recently released SARDI oat variety 06204-16 Bilby met industry requirements in terms of physical milling characteristics and nutritional β-glucan content and was classified as OAT1 milling grade.
Ash Wiese, Narrogin grower and GIWA Oat Council Chair commented: “It’s important that Western Australia maintain its reputation for high quality oats, and Bilby brings
another level of quality with its high β-glucan levels.”
“Bilby meets all of our requirements for quality, yield, milling performance and sensory testing.”
“It is now up to farmers and the market to decide if this variety has a fit in our cropping system.”
“It is encouraging to see that our breeders have been able to achieve increased β-glucan without
compromising on other quality traits.”
Bilby has been bred as a dwarf, mid-season, medium to high rainfall variety. With higher yield
potential, higher β-glucan, a 1000 grain weight and reasonable physical grain qualities, Bilby is
expected to provide options for Australian east coast growers as a potential replacement to Matika,
and is expected to find a niche fit in Western Australia.