TEMPERATE & TROPICAL PASTURE HANDBOOK PART 1 OF 4 (GRASSES)
Grasses
Clovers Herbs & Brassicas
Lucernes
Cereals
Blends & Mixes
Tropicals
Tools & Information
www.heritageseeds.com.au
Calendar 2011 January
July
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr 2 9 16 23 30
3 10 17 24 31
4 11 18 25
5 12 19 26
6 13 20 27
7 14 21 28
Sa 1 8 15 22 29
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 20 21 22 24 25 26 27 28 29 31
Fr 4 11 18 25
Sa 5 12 19 26
Su Mo 1 7 8 14 15 21 22 28 29
Sa 5 12 19 26
Su Mo Tu We Th 1 4 5 6 7 8 11 12 13 14 15 18 19 20 21 22 25 26 27 28 29
February Su Mo Tu We Th 1 2 3 6 7 8 9 10 13 14 15 16 17 20 21 22 23 24 27 28
August
We 2 9 16 23 30
Th 3 10 17 24 31
Fr 4 11 18 25
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 20 21 22 24 25 26 27 28 29
Sa 2 9 16 23 30
May Mo 2 9 16 23 30
Tu 3 10 17 24 31
We 4 11 18 25
Th 5 12 19 26
Th 2 9 16 23 30
Th 4 11 18 25
Fr 5 12 19 26
Sa 6 13 20 27
Fr 2 9 16 23 30
Sa 3 10 17 24
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr 7 14 21 28
Sa 1 8 15 22 29
Fr 4 11 18 25
Sa 5 12 19 26
Fr 2 9 16 23 30
Sa 3 10 17 24 31
2 9 16 23 30
3 10 17 24 31
4 11 18 25
5 12 19 26
6 13 20 27
November
Fr 6 13 20 27
Sa 7 14 21 28
Su Mo Tu 1 6 7 8 13 14 15 20 21 22 27 28 29
Fr 3 10 17 24
Sa 4 11 18 25
Su Mo Tu We Th 1 4 5 6 7 8 11 12 13 14 15 18 19 20 21 22 25 26 27 28 29
June Su Mo Tu We 1 5 6 7 8 12 13 14 15 19 20 21 22 26 27 28 29
We 3 10 17 24 31
October
April
Su 1 8 15 22 29
Tu 2 9 16 23 30
September
March Su Mo Tu 1 6 7 8 13 14 15 20 21 22 27 28 29
Sa 2 9 16 23 30
We 2 9 16 23 30
Th 3 10 17 24
December
“You get a lot more from a bag of Heritage Seeds.”
Contents Product Development
2
Which paddock to renovate?
3
Choosing a pasture variety
4
Perennial ryegrass
7
Long rotation ryegrass
13
Hybrid Italian ryegrass
14
Annual ryegrass
16
Tall fescue
18
Cocksfoot
21
Other temperate grasses
22
Pasture legumes
26
Forage herbs
38
Forage brassicas
40
Lucerne
46
Forage cereals
52
Mixes and blends
59
Temperate sowing guide
66
Tropical grasses
70
Tropical sowing guide
76
Evergreen tropical mixes
78
Pro-Tech seed enhancement
79
Rainfall chart
80
Seed weights guide
82
Sowing rates guide
83
Notes
84
Pasture Handbook Š 2011 Heritage Seeds Pty Ltd.
1
Heritage Seeds is one of Australia’s largest privately owned pasture seed companies. Specializing in quality tropical and temperate pastures, fodder crops, forage cereals, turf and amenity grasses. To ensure that our products are market leaders, Heritage Seeds invests in significant research and development programs which are conducted at our facilities in Howlong in New South Wales and Gatton in Queensland. We also invest in Research and Development activities at numerous off-station trial sites and on a wide range of commercial farms. To make sure that we put our seed and coating technologies through their paces, we ensure that these sites are representative of typical farming operations including: extreme summer temperatures; varying levels of moisture stress; physically difficult soils; and only moderately fertile soils. We also partner with leading national and international agricultural research institutions to undertake collaborative plant breeding and research to ensure that our clients receive the latest, state of the art pasture and forage varieties.
Product Development Pathway Breeding Breeding partner / Germplasm source Year 1
Glasshouse crosses
Year 2
Seed Production
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
Spaced plants Selection under grazing
Clonal rows
Year 6
Seed Production
Evaluation Breeder / Heritage Seeds Year 7
Year 8
Heritage Seeds
Year 9
Year 10
Stage 1 Evaluation
Year 11
Year 12
Stage 2 Evaluation
Stage review (advance, re-test, drop)
Release preparation Heritage Seeds Year 13
Year 14
Stage 3 Seed production Market preparation
2
Year 15
8= 59%0- )( ) 7) 4%7896
Product Release
“You get a lot more from a bag of Heritage Seeds.”
No matter what type of stock you are running this season, you need pastures that will deliver. With the right pasture for your situation, you can achieve quality feed with rapid establishment. This will enable you to keep your options open and concentrate on making every stock unit count and maximise your profits. Whether you are growing winter lambs, dairy grazers, prime beef or perhaps all three, you will get more out of every stock unit and grow profits with new pastures. Which paddocks to renovate. The simplest way to identify paddocks for renovation is to compare the production of all paddocks on your farm, using your grazing records. If all the paddocks are the same size, simply add up the number of grazings/year for each paddock. If the paddocks are different sizes, you need to calculate grazings/ha. Don’t forget to include hay or silage crops. Typical pastures are grazed 10-12 times a year. Poor paddocks might give 2 less grazings than average, and 4 less than top performing new grass paddocks. A gain of 2 grazings from renovation equates to 3-4t DM/ha and is highly economic. If the difference is larger, even bigger returns can be made.
Pasture Handbook Š 2011 Heritage Seeds Pty Ltd.
3
Choosing a pasture variety. Ryegrass Diploid/Tetraploids Ryegrass is naturally a diploid that is it has two sets of chromosomes. Some varieties are tetraploids: artificially developed by plant breeders to have four sets of chromosomes. This practice was first developed in Holland in the 1960’s and has since become common in plant breeding. The practice does not involve gene modification. Tetraploids have larger seed (nearly double the size of standard diploid types), and because of this a higher sowing rate is required. Plants are also larger with wider, darker leaves, lower number of tillers, and fewer, but thicker roots. Tetraploiding in perennial ryegrass has been found to increase palatability and can increase feed value. Ryegrass may be used as a single species, although it is more common to sow it as a major component in a pasture blend with clovers and/or other companion species. Sowing rates will depend on the seed size and the growing conditions likely, with the following as a guide: Typically, the ryegrass component will be about 60% - 85% of a pasture blend by weight.
4
Moderate rainfall (550-750mm)
diploids: 12-16 kg/ha
tetraploids: 18-25kg/ha
High rainfall, irrigation (750mm+)
diploids: 16-20 kg/ha
tetraploids: 25-35kg/ha
“You get a lot more from a bag of Heritage Seeds.�
Perennial Ryegrass ryegrass
Annual Italian, Hybrid, Long rotation and Perennial There is an enormous range of ryegrasses available. In nature there are typically three groups: Annuals (1 year) Italians (1-3 years) Perennials (3-5 years plus) There are also natural hybrids between the groups and plant breeders have developed these hybrids to produce varieties for a particular role or performance. All ryegrass will propagate from seed, however the more perennial characteristics the variety has the greater its ability to serf-regenerate from vegetative daughter tillers. True annual ryegrass does not have this ability, whereas true perennials have a large capacity to reproduce through tillering. Therefore as the capacity for vegative tillering increases, the longer lived the plant. Italian and hybrids are intermediate types in this respect. Long rotation ryegrasses (LR) can be largely classed as perennial in habit, although they have usually been crossed to exhibit some of the increased seasonal performance of Italian ryegrass. In summer dry situations, vegetative tillering will be reduced or nonexistent, hence perennial ryegrass may not persist well enough to be an option. USES Cool season growth is more prominent the more annual the variety, with true annuals having the capacity to produce the most autumn and winter feed, followed by the Italians, hybrids, LR and perennial types. Annual Ryegrass Is popular in areas with winter dominant rainfall and dry, hot summers. Perennial Ryegrass These work best in areas with more spread rainfall pattern or irrigation and milder summers. Most persistent
Perennial ryegrass
Less winter growth
Long rotation ryegrass Hybrid ryegrass Least persistent
Italian ryegrass Annual ryegrass
Pasture Handbook Š 2011 Heritage Seeds Pty Ltd.
More winter growth
5
Ryegrass
Heading dates In a similar pattern to the longevity of a ryegrass, varieties are selected for their heading date. This is when the grass becomes reproductive and sends up flowering tillers. As a rule the earlier the heading date, the more late winter growth potential and the more pronounced the spike in spring growth. Early heading types are more suited to areas where the spring conditions may become hot and dry early. Once they have run to head they will typically stop producing unless there is follow up moisture. This is a useful survival strategy for ryegrass in drier extensive grazing areas. Once a grass starts to become reproductive and runs to head, the relative pasture quality is reduced as the plant accumulates more cellulose and lignin. Stalky pastures with lower proportion of leaf have reduced quality and animal performance can be reduced. Conversely, it is typical for late heading date varieties to exhibit less winter growth, have a longer but steadier spring flush thus allowing for greater flexibility and extended pasture quality into early summer. Later heading varieties offer a wider window of quality feed in the spring. Increasingly, ryegrasses are selected to have as narrow a heading period as possible. i.e. they are selected to run to head all at once, and then stop. This is termed ‘low after-math heading’ (AMH). If a variety has an extended flowering period, then the quality of the pasture on offer is lower for a longer period due to the stalk content. In older varieties this explains part of the persistence of some old pastures: it is not the original plant that survives, but the capacity for the stand to re-seed over a long flowering period with lax grazing or through hay cutting. Nowadays, grass is more often conserved as silage, less frequently taken for hay and varieties are generally selected for low AMH, meaning that to obtain true long-term perenniality, the grass must be managed to reproduce from its tillers. This can be encouraged by selecting the right variety for the conditions, good grazing management – particularly in spring, appropriate fertility, and not grazing when the paddocks are going through stress such as drought or waterlogging.
6
“You get a lot more from a bag of Heritage Seeds.”
Perennial Ryegrass
Perennial ryegrass
15 - 30 kg/ha
In the high rainfall and irrigated regions of southern Australia perennial ryegrass is the grass of choice for permanent pastures. It is relatively easy and quick to establish and easy to manage, although it struggles under high summer temperatures and needs appropriate management to ensure long term persistence. • Perennial ryegrass , establishes rapidly, yields well, tolerates a range of management practices and has high feed value • It is compatible with a range of legumes offering an excellent all round pasture for grazing systems. Ryegrasses with advanced endophyte that do not adversely affect stock are now readily available.
Heading dates of Heritage Seeds’ perennial ryegrasses {Bronsyn = 0} Day 0 generally occurs in late October, but this varies by 2-3 weeks from year to year. For example, a cold early spring delays heading, whereas a warm spring can bring it earlier.
0 days
-17
EARLY Me rid i
an
+7
MID Br on
+14
LATE
sy n
Ar ro w
Pasture Handbook © 2011 Heritage Seeds Pty Ltd.
Alt o
+25
V. LATE
Be a
ley
7
Ryegrass Perennial ryegrass Endophyte
Choosing the right ryegrass endophyte Ryegrass endophyte can have a major impact on pasture persistence and animal performance. There are several endophyte options currently available in Australia. Each has its own characteristics, so it is important to understand the differences between them, and which farm situations they are best suited to.
AR1 – The premier endophyte for most medium to high rainfall farming situations throughout southern Australia. It provides very good resistance to many insects and excellent persistence in most regions of southern Australia when matched with superior ryegrass varieties. AR1 also gives excellent animal performance and health with no chance of ryegrass staggers. This endophyte may not be suitable for areas where black beetle is a problem. NEA2 – An ideal endophyte for most intensive farming situations
through southern Australia. It provides excellent control of most insects giving a level of protection that is ideal for the level of insect pressure in Australia. NEA2 also provides excellent animal performance and staggers-free pasture.
Endo5 – Similar to NEA2, with good control of most insects. Endo5 provides staggers-free pasture, although it may slightly reduce liveweight gain in lambs. Only available in tetraploid varieties.
AR37 – Provides the highest overall insect resistance, and is ideal for situations where black beetle is a problem and has excellent resistance to root aphid. It can cause ryegrass staggers (although less often and usually less severe than Standard endophyte) and can impact animal production. It is not recommended for deer or horses and caution is needed when grazing with sheep. Standard endophyte (SE) – Not recommended for sowing in most situations. Standard endophyte is more likely to cause staggers, and can significantly reduce lamb growth and milk production in dairy cows.
Without endophyte (WE) – Removing endophyte eliminates
any animal health problems, but insect resistance is also lost and pastures do not persist well in the Australian environment.
Note: ryegrass endophytes don’t provide protection against pasture cockchafers.
8
“You get a lot more from a bag of Heritage Seeds.”
Perennial Ryegrass ryegrass
Tetraploid perennial ryegrass Bealey is very late flowering (+25 days) giving high quality feed into late spring and summer. This makes pasture management easier and improves animal performance. It is a perennial ryegrass with good tiller density, giving good persistence and contains an advanced endophyte (Plus NEA2) that does not contribute to animal health problems but maintains good insect resistance. Bealey is a tetraploid perennial ryegrass that boosts animal performance by combining the key elements of high feed quality high yield and more even seasonal growth.
+ Very late flowering (+25 days) + Excellent winter & summer growth + Highly palatable tetraploid + Long term persistence + PlusNEA2 endophyte = increased production = insect resistance = no staggers.
Pasture Handbook Š 2011 Heritage Seeds Pty Ltd.
9
Perennial Ryegrass
Diploid perennial ryegrass Arrow is a high performance diploid perennial ryegrass combining high total yield, with outstanding late winter, early spring and summer growth. Arrow is mid to late flowering (+7days) giving improved spring quality in a high yielding perennial ryegrass. Arrow has Plus AR1 advanced endophyte for improved animal health and production and easier pasture management. The medium erect growth habit of this variety allows for good clover compatibility, which gives improved feed quality. Arrow has shown excellent persistence in trials, with good rust resistance. Arrow consistently shows improved late winter and early spring growth allowing farmers to start their season earlier by offering more feed when it is most needed. Ideal for early calving or early lamb finishing systems.
+ Mid-late flowering (+7days) + Improved late winter-early spring & summer growth + Low aftermath heading + Plus AR1 endophyte = increased production = insect resistance = no staggers.
10
“You get a lot more from a bag of Heritage Seeds.�
Perennial Ryegrass ryegrass
Diploid perennial ryegrass Alto is a high performance, late flowering perennial ryegrass (+14 days) with an even growth pattern, late spring quality and excellent persistence and improved yield, particularly through early spring, summer and autumn. With its fine leaves and dense tillers, Alto can tolerate Australia’s harsh conditions and has shown the outstanding persistence in trials. Alto has high ME averaging 12.4 (in well-managed pasture), is late flowering and has reduced aftermath heading. This leads to better feed quality in late spring. Alto has Plus AR1 advanced endophyte for improved animal health and production and easier pasture management.
+ Late flowering (+14 days) + High tiller density + Very high total production + Plus AR1 endophyte = increased production = insect resistance = no staggers.
Pasture Handbook Š 2011 Heritage Seeds Pty Ltd.
11
Perennial Ryegrass
Exceptional early spring growth Meridian is an early flowering (-17 days ) perennial ryegrass. It helps fill the late winter and early spring feed deficit and makes the most of growing season rainfall. Trials have shown lambs grazed on Meridian Plus AR1 ryegrass gain weight faster and have less dags, therefore, less flystrike than those grazing on standard pasture. Suitable for 600mm+ rainfall areas and irrigation.
+ E arly flowering (-17days) + Improved late winter-early spring & summer growth + Low aftermath heading + Plus AR1 endophyte = increased production = insect resistance = no staggers. In lamb grazing trials at Lincoln University NZ, lambs on Meridian got an extra 10 days grazing in early spring. At this time pasture quality is generally good, but pasture quantity limits stock performance. This extra feed allows lambs to be finished earlier, onto a premium schedule, which could result in extra income and profit.
12
“You get a lot more from a bag of Heritage Seeds.�
LongPerennial Rotation Ryegrass ryegrass
Long rotation ryegrass
15 - 30 kg/ha
Long rotation ryegrasses generally fall between perennial and hybrid ryegrass in growth and persistence, but varieties vary widely. Some are more similar to hybrid ryegrass and some to perennial ryegrass. Better long rotation ryegrasses will last for five years or more supplying very high quality feed year round. They require less re-sowing than short-term ryegrasses, reducing renovation costs.
Excellent heat and drought tolerance Barberia has the growth of an annual with persistence approaching that of a perennial. It has been bred from North African genetics, providing it with good heat and drought tolerance and with adequate moisture will produce well in late summer when traditional perennials are struggling to grow through the hotter months. Barberia is very palatable and has been preferentially grazed in trials and demonstration paddocks. Highly palatable ryegrass can result in increased intake and add to overall animal performance. Barberia contains no endophyte and will not contribute to staggers and heat stress.
+ V ery fast establishing + Grows like an annual, lasts like a long rotation + Endophyte free = no staggers + Highly palatable + Excellent heat tolerance + Suited to over-sowing
Pasture Handbook Š 2011 Heritage Seeds Pty Ltd.
13
Hybrid/Italian Ryegrass
Hybrid ryegrass
15 - 30 kg/ha
Hybrid ryegrasses, are generally produced by plant breeders crossing Italian ryegrass with perennial ryegrass. Hybrid ryegrasses tend to fall between Italian and perennial ryegrasses in growth and persistence. Hybrid ryegrass gives better winter production than perennial ryegrass and is best used in summer wet areas where they may persist for 3-4 years.
Italian ryegrass
15 - 30 kg/ha
Italian ryegrasses are sown as highly productive short term pastures in areas with mild summers or where late season rains result in pasture growth into late spring and early summer. It is also well suited to over-sowing into run down pastures and may be sown in spring where summer moisture is reliable. Italian ryegrass can persist for 2-3 years in summer mild areas under irrigation or reliable summer rainfall. In summer dry areas it will generally thin out over summer, being productive for only one year, but will continue to produce quality feed through spring and into summer, giving it an advantage over annual ryegrasses. Italian ryegrass will thin considerably during hot and/or dry summers and should not be sown as part of a permanent pasture as it will die out allowing weeds to take over. Italian ryegrass also establish rapidly and compete strongly with perennial species. Although Italian ryegrass can persist through summer it will require re-sowing or over-sowing to maintain long term plant density.
14
“You get a lot more from a bag of Heritage Seeds.�
Perennial Italian Ryegrass ryegrass
Developed in Australia Hulk has been developed in Australia for up to 10% higher yields than other Italian ryegrasses. While most elite Italian ryegrasses have good feed quality, many tend to lodge or fall over as their yield builds up, resulting in leaves being trampled rather than eaten. This can be commonly seen in larger leaved tetraploids and is most likely during spring when growth rates are high. While Hulk was selected as an upright variety, it continues to produce high quality, leafy feed through spring, but holds its leaves off the ground, even as yield builds up. This makes grazing or harvesting for silage or hay easier, potentially resulting in less waste.
+ F ast establishment with excellent winter – early spring yield + Up to 10% higher yields than other Italian ryegrasses + Developed in Australia + Suitable to oversow
Pasture Handbook Š 2011 Heritage Seeds Pty Ltd.
15
Annual Ryegrass
Annual ryegrass
20 - 30 kg/ha
Annual ryegrasses are sown for a high quality short-term winter crop, providing multiple grazings in winter and spring. Therefore annual ryegrass is generally used for a 6-9 month winter crop prior to sowing a summer crop, or to make the most of a growing season rainfall where late season rain is unreliable. Annual ryegrass exhibits the greatest winter growth potential of all the ryegrass types. Including annual ryegrass when sowing a permanent pasture is not generally recommended. These tend to die out, allowing weeds to take over. They also establish rapidly and compete strongly with perennial species.
Exceptional heat tolerance Maximus is an elite, late flowering annual ryegrass with rapid establishment, exceptional palatability and maintains row quality in spring – producing outstanding hay or silage. Its Mexican background provides exceptional heat tolerance.
+ Late flowering tetraploid annual + Excellent winter and early spring growth + Good quality – reduced heading + Good heat tolerance + Excellent rust resistance
16
“You get a lot more from a bag of Heritage Seeds.”
Annual Ryegrass
New variety release for 2011 Arnie is a late maturing diploid annual ryegrass selected for strong early yield, good spring growth and rust resistance. It is densely tillered with fine leaves and an upright growth habit, and has proven to be highly adaptable across a diverse range of environments. Due to the high tiller density and high dry matter content typical of diploid varieties, Arnie will offer more available feed at the same growth height than other varieties, especially tetraploid ryegrasses. Arnie maintains a high feed quality into late spring despite its upright growth habit. It is well adapted across a wide range of environments and seasonal conditions, and as a result can be relied upon despite seasonal, regional or farm to farm variability.
+ Quick to first grazing + Excellent autumn/winter production + Strong late spring growth + Very useful for hay and/or silage
Pasture Handbook Š 2011 Heritage Seeds Pty Ltd.
17
Other Temperate Grasses
Tall fescue
10 - 15 kg/ha
Tall Fescue is a very deep rooted, true perennial that is adapted to a wide range of conditions and soil types. It will cope well with water-logging and has a degree of salt tolerance. Generally a pH of 5.6 or higher is needed for best long-term results, and it will respond to improved fertility. It will do best under medium to high rainfall or irrigation, although Mediterranean types will persist in summer dry areas. Tall Fescue is very slow to establish, and care must be taken not to have it selectively grazed out of mixed stands in the first year. It is a good species to use as a pasture base to companion cocksfoot, phalaris and clovers. Stock acceptance may be slow initially when introduced from ryegrass pastures. Suits all stock classes. There are two fairly distinct sub-groups: Mediterranean: Mediterranean cool season (winter) active, tall fescue is summer semi - dormant to dormant , giving improved persistence in summer dry regions. It is faster establishing than summer active tall fescue and has strong winter and spring production and fine leaves, maintaining better feed quality. It suits dryland, lighter soils and slopes. Continental: Continental Summer active tall fescue is a perennial grass more tolerant of hot summer, poorly drained and saline conditions than perennial ryegrass. In Australia, it is mainly sown under flood irrigation where summer temperatures limit ryegrass growth or where summer rainfall is expected. It performs best on clay soils, where its deeper rooting ability can utilise more soil moisture than ryegrass.
18
“You get a lot more from a bag of Heritage Seeds.�
Tall Fescue
Summer active forage tall fescue Dovey is a fast establishing tall fescue with excellent seedling vigour. This helps for successful establishment and shorter time to first graze than with many other fescue varieties.
+ Fast establishing + Warm-season active, excellent summer feed value + High yielding and suits dryland and irrigation + Will continue growing when summer temperatures are over 30ËšC + Can withstand longer irrigation intervals than ryegrasses + Persistent and good legume companion + Nil endophyte safe for all stock classes.
Pasture Handbook Š 2011 Heritage Seeds Pty Ltd.
19
Tall Fescue
Winter active forage tall fescue Prosper is a truly summer dormant variety with an erect growth habit and fine, soft leaves. Prosper has good winter and spring growth, excellent rust resistance and is suited to summer dry environments. It has fast establishment and very good late autumn and winter production and is late flowering so has long spring growth pattern before entering dormancy over summer.
+ Fast establishing + Truly summer dormant, excellent cool season growth + Erect growth habit, with fine, soft leaves + Rust resistant + Persistent and good legume companion + Nil endophyte safe for all stock classes.
20
“You get a lot more from a bag of Heritage Seeds.�
Cocksfoot
Cocksfoot
2 - 5 kg/ha
This is a true perennial that suits lighter, well drain soils. It is the most acid-soil tolerant grass and will produce well where many other grasses struggle. Cocksfoot is slow to establish as the seed is small and light-weight. Cocksfoot is generally used in low-medium rainfall areas as a component in a pasture mix with clovers and other grasses. It is probably the most tolerant of the grasses to attack from pasture caterpillars and grubs. Higher sowing rates will result in the cocksfoot becoming dominant over time. Generally used in extensive sheep and beef production, although there is scope for use within dairy systems. There are many varieties available, with some more noted for having a dense crown, and tolerant of drought and close grazing; others being less dense, more upright and better companions for clover.
Fine leafed cocksfoot Howlong was bred from Porto Cocksfoot specifically for Australian Conditions. Howlong has fine leaves and tillers with an upright growth habit, is more compatible with other pasture species and less likely to form clumps than traditional varieties – making management easier. Howlong has high total yield and good autumn winter growth.
+ Improved Autumn / Winter Growth + Fine leaves and tillers + Less likely to form clumps + More compatible with other species.
Pasture Handbook Š 2011 Heritage Seeds Pty Ltd.
21
Other Temperate Grasses
Phalaris
2 - 6 kg/ha
Phalaris is a deep-rooted, vigorous perennial that is best suited to heavier soils, but will produce well on a range of soil types. Early varieties were most suited to neutral and alkaline soils, although newer varieties have been developed to produce well in more acidic conditions. Phalaris has some tolerance to salinity and is very tolerant of periods of water-logging. It is resistant to cockchafers and corbie grubs. Phalaris has a small seed, reflected in the low sowing rate. It is often used in combination with ryegrass, cocksfoot and/or tall fescue and a range of clovers and other legumes in sheep and beef production. Phalaris’ toxicity can be a concern in autumn, particularly for hungry animals introduced to the first green pick of the autumn break. Newer varieties have reduced toxicity levels, and when sown in a mixed stand, and with good management, phalaris toxicity is rarely a problem. Similar to tall fescue, there are two main groups: Winter active: summer dormant, more erect, more acid tolerant, suited to dryland and cattle. Winter dormant: more prostrate, often denser crown, neutral pH, suited to sheep, summer rainfall.
Brome grasses
20 - 30 kg/ha
This group of several distinct species are large-seeded and vary from short-term to perennial in nature. They are mostly used on well drained soil types of moderate fertility. Brome grasses are usually sown as a sole stand, but could be used with cocksfoot, phalaris or tall fescue. One of the key attractions is that bromes contain no endophyte and do not create animal health concerns such as ryegrass staggers or phalaris toxicity. They remain nutritious and palatable when used as standing feed in summer. With inclusion of clovers, brome grass pastures are productive and useful for many stock classes:
22
“You get a lot more from a bag of Heritage Seeds.�
Brome Grasses
– Prairie grass Prairie grasses are either annual or short-lived perennial brome grasses that offer excellent cool/winter season growth. They can be very productive in winter dominant rainfall areas, with good quality and high palatability. Prolific re-seeders, they can be managed to create a more-or-less permanent stand, but often best used when a 2-3 year pasture phase is required in (noncereal) cropping rotations in combination with mixed grazing. Useful alternative to Italian ryegrass where conditions may be a little harsher and on lighter soils, particularly for winter feed.
– Coloured brome
Coloured brome is a longer-lived brome grass suitable for medium rainfall areas with moderate-good fertility. It offers reasonable quality forage and is predominantly summer active. It is suitable for sheep and cattle under rotational grazing.
– Grazing brome
Grazing brome tolerates harder grazing than prairie grass. It is a perennial in nature, and really needs a neutral pH, good fertility, good drainage and close grazing management for best performance. As it is slow to establish and requires close management, it is best sown as a sole grass. Mostly used for sheep and horses, with set-stocking in areas with mild winters and the chance of summer rain.
Pasture Handbook © 2011 Heritage Seeds Pty Ltd.
23
Brome Grass
– Pasture brome Pasture brome tolerates harder grazing than prairie grass and is suited to summer dry, well drained soils. It is more perennial in nature than prairie grass, and can be rotationally grazed or set stocked. It requires neutral pH, good drainage and reasonable fertility. In many respects pasture brome offers the grazing flexibility of prairie grass together with the persistence of a grazing brome. It is later heading than other brome grasses and offers higher quality feed over a longer period in the spring. Used in medium rainfall areas for longer-term mixed grazing.
Permanent pasture Bareno pasture brome is a standout permanent pasture for summer dry free draining soils. It is persistent, palatable high yielding and legume friendly. Bareno can be rotationally grazed or set stocked, and flowers 19 days later than Gala, with better late spring quality and summer growth. It is more flexible in its management and maintains palatability through all seasons.
+ Highly palatable + More persistent than other prairie grasses + Supports a high legume content + Improved summer yield & quality where ryegrass hays off + Endophyte free.
24
“You get a lot more from a bag of Heritage Seeds.�
Other Temperate Grasses
Tall wheat grass
10 - 15 kg/ha
Tall wheat grass is used in salty, wet areas for long-term management of salinity issues. It is usually used to help prevent erosion in salt affected areas and lower the water table. It has a reasonably large seed, but will grow into a large crowned-plant, so the sowing rate is more modest as a result. It can only offer fair quality feed, although can be useful sown in a mixed sward with other salt-tolerant species such as phalaris, tall fescue, sub clover and strawberry clover. Best grazed in mid-late autumn after it has been growing and working through the spring and summer. It will be stalky and probably in seed-head, but the main purpose is to manage the salt and local water table issues.
Puccinellia
5 - 10 kg/ha
Similar in use to tall wheat grass, puccinellia is a perennial grain used for salt affected areas. It will however tend to perform like an annual and dry off in hot summer conditions. It is less vigorous than tall wheat grass, and more difficult to establish, but probably offers higher row quality and more palatable feed. Best sown in autumn and will be productive in autumn and spring. Mostly used in medium-low rain fall extensive sheep production.
Pasture Handbook Š 2011 Heritage Seeds Pty Ltd.
25
CONTACTS
Central & Western Victoria Chris Harkness Regional Business Manager Fax: 03 9561 9333 Mobile: 0413 442 815 charkness@heritageseeds.com.au Tasmania & Gippsland Rob Winter Regional Business Manager Fax: 03 9561 9333 Mobile: 0427 010 870 rwinter@heritageseeds.com.au North Victoria Chris Pargeter Regional Business Manager Fax: 03 9561 9333 Mobile: 0434 078 126 cpargeter@heritageseeds.com.au South Australia & Western Australia Matt Lane Regional Business Manager Fax: 03 9561 9333 Mobile: 0418 191 060 mlane@heritageseeds.com.au Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia & Western Australia Darren Driscoll Sales Manager Fax: 03 9561 9333 Mobile: 0413 442 804 darren@heritageseeds.com.au
Freecall: 1800 727 007 Applicable Heritage Seeds varieties are rights protected under the PBR Act 1994
The information presented in this publication is offered in good faith, based on Seed Industry data and relevant advice. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and freedom from error. Heritage Seeds, its agents or advisors accepts no responsibility for any loss or actions arising from viewing the publication’s content.
Heritage Seeds Pty Ltd, a member of the
www.heritageseeds.com.au