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Tall fescue is an alternative to perennial ryegrass for permanent pasture and has potential advantages in specific situations. Fescue is most advantageous where summer growth is limited by lack of moisture and high soil temperatures, and where perennial ryegrass persistence is an issue. |
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There are important differences in the management of tall fescue compared to perennial ryegrass, particularly during etablishment and grazing management during spring and summer.
Tall fescue is likely to be most successfully integrated into a dairy system where a significant proportion of the farm (25% or more) is established in fescue rather than one-two paddocks. Paddocks that are summer dry, have suffered insect damage, or where ryegrass has failed to persist, are ideal candidates for renovation with tall fescue.
Characteristics of tall fescue
Tall fescue grows throughout New Zealand but its advantages over ryegrass are greatest in environments with warm-hot summers, soils that often dry out and where insect damage is a problem for ryegrass. The optimum temperature for perennial ryegrass growth is 20°C with production declining above 24°C. The optimum for tall fescue is 26°C, with growth continuing into the mid 30°C.
Tall fescue has a larger root system than ryegrass which provides greater tolerance to grass grub, less pugging damage in wet conditions and less pulling by grazing cows. Tall fescue also has greater tolerance to water logging.
