Dryland pasture and animal evaluation of Grasslands Gala grazing brome

Abstract

Grasslands Gala grazing brome, the first cultivar bred from Bromus stamineus (B. stamineus Desv.), was selected from plant material collected in central Chile. Small-plot evaluations have indicated Gala has agronomic characteristics appropriate to dryland grazing systems. This trial was designed primarily to evaluate the seasonal production, persistence and animal performance obtainable from Gala under dryland conditions. Gala was compared with cultivars from three different Bromus species, Grasslands Matua (B. willdenowii Ku&r.), Grasslands Hakari (B. sitchensis Trin.) and Grasslands Tiki (B. inermis Leyss.) and an endophyte ryegrass Grasslands Pacific (Lolium perenne L.). Gala established rapidly, and under a long rotation lax grazing management, had seasonal yields similar to Grasslands Pacific, Matua and Hakari. Hogget liveweight trials indicated Gala produced quality forage in all seasons with weight gains similar to those on Matua and surpassing those on Pacific during summer and autumn. Under a short rotation hard grazed management Gala was more competitive and yielded at a similar level to Pacific and Matua, and showed the least sign of tiller depletion. Hakari became severely depleted under this management and along with Tiki was eliminated from this evaluation at the end of the first year. These initial results (3 years' data) indicate that Gala compares favourably with existing cultivars, and its broad range of tolerances should make it a desirable option as a perennial in South Island dryland pastoral systems.