Performance of tall fescue, cocksfoot and phalaris based pastures compared with perennial ryegrass, in on-farm trials

Abstract

Ryegrass monocultures and mixtures containing at least one or two other grass species were compared on three sites over 3-6 years. At Atiamuri, under intensive dairying, a tall fescue-cocksfoot pasture yielded 3.7 t/ha/yr, and 14 kg/ha/day in spring and 17 kg in summer, more than the mdnocuiture. Under dairying at Opiki, a phalaris-ryegrass mixture yielded 1.8 t/ha/yr, and 5 kg/ha/day in winter and 7 kg in autumn, more than the monoculture. At Castlepoint Station, a cocksfoot-tall fescue pasture yielded 1.4 t/ha/yr, and 11 kg/ha/day in summer, more than the monoculture. These pastures would more closely meet (or exceed) animal feed demands, so increasing gross farm income through increased animal performance and carrying capacity. Keywords Grasslands Kara cocksfoot, Grasslands Maru phalaris, Grasslands Puna chicory, Grasslands Roa tall fescue, ryegrass monoculture, dry matter yield, animal demand