Tall fescue use on dairy farms

Milne, G.D.; Shaw, R.J.; Powell, Roy A.; Pirie, B.; Pirie, J.

doi:10.33584/jnzg.1997.59.2236

Cited by 22 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…The tall fescue used was a summer active Continental cultivar, Advance, infected with the novel endophyte strain MaxP™. Advance was chosen for its establishment vigour, seasonal and annual production, and persistence (Fraser & Lyons, ; Milne, Shaw, Powell, Pirie, & Pirie, ). All grass seed was Superstrike ® ‐treated.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A comparison of perennial ryegrass‐ and tall fescue‐based swards with or without a cropping component for dairy production: Animal production, herbage characteristics and financial performance from a 3‐year farmlet trial

Lee

Clark

et al. 2017

Grass and Forage Science

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Perennial ryegrass/white clover swards have some limitations in temperate grazed dairying systems. This study tested the hypothesis that farmlets based on alternative species would be equally or more profitable than those perennial ryegrass‐based, and would produce more herbage in summer‐dry conditions. Six farmlets were established; three with perennial ryegrass‐ and three with tall fescue‐based swards. For each grass species, one farmlet was solely based on grass‐clover swards while the other two had either chicory‐red clover or lucerne crops planted on 20%–25% of the area. Animal‐ and herbage performance‐related variables were measured for 3 years, and calculated financial performance was evaluated. Using tall fescue improved total annual herbage yield compared with perennial ryegrass, but animal production and operating profit were lower. This was likely due to the reduced yield and nutritive value of tall fescue during spring and an associated decline in daily milksolids production. The deficit in spring milksolids production was never recovered, despite greater herbage production from tall fescue during summer/autumn. Incorporating chicory‐red clover or lucerne crops reduced both annual herbage and milksolids production. This reduced farm income, while increasing operating expenses as the farmlets required crop renewal and more purchased supplementary feed to maintain feed supply. Under the conditions of this study (i.e., partial irrigation, high nitrogen supply), changing the forage base from perennial ryegrass to tall fescue did not improve animal production or profitability, nor did incorporation of crops on 20%–25% of the farmlet area.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A comparison of perennial ryegrass‐ and tall fescue‐based swards with or without a cropping component for dairy production: Animal production, herbage characteristics and financial performance from a 3‐year farmlet trial

Lee

Clark

et al. 2017

Grass and Forage Science

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“…Tall fescue is grown to increase summer forage production. The importance of tall fescue in New Zealand pastoral farming has been widely discussed, along with drawbacks (Brock 1983;Easton et al 1994;Milne et al 1997). Reported problems include establishment, fertility, grazing management requirements and persistence (Easton et al 1994).…”

Section: Tall Fescuementioning

confidence: 99%

Tall fescue and chicory for increased summer forage production

Rollo¹,

Sheath²,

Slay³

et al. 1998

ProNZG

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Production of summer forage is an important consideration in environments prone to extremes of heat or moisture stress. Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and chicory (Cichorum intybus) are two forage species with the potential to overcome the production shortfalls of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) in such environments. Trials from three New Zealand regions prone to summer drought (Taranaki, Hawke's Bay and Canterbury) were used to compare production of tall fescue and chicory with production from resident ryegrass. Consistent production advantages from tall fescue and chicory were evident in the two years after establishment. Potential production advantages can disappear in subsequent years when summer moisture levels are very high or very low, or temperatures extremely high. Moderate moisture levels in summer, indicated by moderate ryegrass production, gave the biggest relative summer production advantages to tall fescue. Keywords: chicory, dryland, forage production, ryegrass, tall fescue

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“…McCallum et al (1992) and Thomson et al (1988) showed that tall fescue produced higher annual DM yields than ryegrass without irrigation; and under cutting, Martin (2008) showed that irrigated tall fescue had higher water use efficiency and produced more DM than ryegrass. However, the slow establishment and management difficulties of tall fescue (Easton et al 1994) have limited its use on dairy farms (Milne et al 1997). The recent development of cultivars bred for improved establishment (Fraser & Lyons 1994) with the inclusion of a non-toxic novel endophyte, MaxP ® , which protects against a wide range of pasture pests, has renewed interest in this forage.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%