Dairy NZ

Choosing the right cultivar (variety) as well as sourcing quality seed, storing then sowing correctly all have bearing on the future success of pasture.

Endophyte selection

Before selecting the cultivar select the endophyte that will give you protection from insects while not causing animal health problems.  There are few areas in NZ that do not have to consider damage from one or more insects except the West Coast region. As new endophytes are being released annually contact your seed expert or refer to Farmfacts 1-22 - Understanding endophytes and 1-24 - Establishing ryegrass containing a novel endophyte.

Heading dates

Do not mix cultivars with different heading dates in a paddock. Consider sowing the farm in cultivars with a range of heading dates (e.g. half the farm sown in early heading cultivars, the other half in late heading cultivars). 

Aftermath heading (AMH)

Aftermath heading refers to continued seed head production after the main spring heading.  Choose cultivars that have reduced aftermath heading for improved summer pasture quality and animal productivity.

Tetraploids and diploids

Tetraploids are more upright clover-friendly plants. Tetraploid ryegrasses are highly palatable, tend to be grazed lower reducing litter levels and hence accumulation of facial eczema spores.  Diploids produce more tillers and consequently are more persistent and tolerant of overgrazing than are tetraploids.

Winter productivity

Generally annual and Italian ryegrasses produce more dry matter in the winter and early spring than other ryegrasses.  Annuals persist for 6-8 months; Italians can persist from one year in summer dry areas and up to three years in summer wet conditions.

Refer FarmFact 1-23 for features and examples of types of ryegrass cultivars

Quality seed - Endophyte viability

Certified Seed is recommended - seed produced under the NZ Seed Certification scheme that meets quality standards and is free of weed seeds.  Germination, purity and endophyte certificates should be available, to check seed quality.  The germination should be 90%+, seed purity 99%+, and perennial ryegrass with endophyte should be 70%+ endophyte. Endophyte viability deteriorates over time with some endophytes less viable than other. Seed that is stored must be cool stored.  Do not plant ryegrass seed that is left-over from last year's sowing; use seed harvested in the year of sowing for best endophyte viability. When sowing new ryegrass seed always use treated seed to control insect attack on seedlings.

 Ryegrass seeding rates (kg/ha)

Note 1/ Higher seeding rates are often recommended as a cover for poor seedbed preparation.  High seeding rates do result in good coverage in early establishment and provide competition for weed species.  However, high seeding rates also result in smaller, weaker individual plants that do not survive the first summer.

Note 2/ As tetraploid seed varies in size check with the seed company as to recommended rate e.g. sowing rate for Bealey is 25-30 kg/ha as it twice the normal seed size.

Pasture sowing rates

• Ryegrass - 16-25 kg/ha
• White clover - 3-4 kg/ha
• Chicory (optional) - 3-4 kg/ha
• Red clover (optional) - 3-4 kg/ha.

Rates are dependent on:

• a good consolidated seedbed
• seed is drilled evenly (tractor speed slow)
• drill has good depth control
• there is adequate moisture after sowing.