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New pea variety offers reliable protein source for pigs

The Australian Pork Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) has announced a new disease resistant field pea introduced for commercial sowing next year will offer pigs producers a reliable protein source.

Pork CRC Program One Manager Dr Ray King said the new CRC Walana field pea was resistant to powdery mildew and the pea seed-borne mosaic virus. He said it was also resistant to the bean leaf roll virus and was suited to short season planting in northern NSW and southern QLD.

"CRC Walana not only satisfies pork producers, but its large, spherical, white seed can also be eligible for lucrative human consumption and splitting markets," Mr King said.  

According to field trials conducted in northern NSW and south east QLD by the University of Sydney field pea breeding program and Plant Research New Zealand, the CRC Walana yields better than the Yarrum and Maki pea varieties, which are  currently used in the pork industry.

The Pork CRC has applied for Plant Breeders Rights for CRC Walana in Australia and has licensed the Waratah Seed Company to market the variety.

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