The Right Ryegrass for Your Farm

Important decisions need to be made when selecting plant species to ensure feed availability, animal performance and profitability are maximised.

Before selecting the right species the following questions need to be answered:

Where is your farm located and what is your climate?
What are your stock class and animal requirements?
What is your soil type (light, free draining, sand, heavy, waterlogged)?
What pests are you exposed to?
How long do you want your pasture rotation length to last?
When is your biggest feed demand?

Selection table

Understanding the differences in these categories will help you determine which ryegrass best suits your farming systems. Ryegrasses can be categorised by their:

Species (annual, Italian, hybrid or perennial)
Ploidy
Heading Dates
Endophyte

At Agricom we believe the choice of endophyte is critical when choosing a new ryegrass cultivar. We have developed the following guide which sets out the decisions you need to make in order of importance. Work from the top of the table and write down the cultivars that meet your requirements.

^{* Prospect and Legion have been bred, selected and successfully tested as perennials and will function as perennial ryegrasses. Due to a small number of tip awns Prospect and Legion are certified as Lolium boucheanum.}

^{**For more information specific to Asset AR37 see page 42.}

^{It is not advisable to mix AR37 and AR1 varieties. AR1 is not recommended for areas where black beetle, porina or root aphid are common problem pests. AR37 is only suitable for sheep and cattle and not advised for deer or horses.}