Assessment of the performance of non-ryegrass pasture mixtures

Abstract

Drawing on practical farming experience and on-farm observations, plus a range of trials from both published and unpublished sources, the authors have compared the relative benefits of mixed species pastures (MSP), also known as mixed herb leys, with traditional ryegrass white clover pastures. This collection of data, demonstrates production advantages using MSP, with lower weed and pest problems, leading to economic benefits and therefore contributing to more sustainable pastoral systems. Keywords: animal production, endophyte, Festuca arundinacea, financial return, grassgrub, internal parasites, Lolium perenne, thistles