RD1 White Pasture Pack

A high quality feed

As Base tetraploid perennial ryegrass is highly palatable, careful management is required to avoid it being overgrazed during times of stress, particularly hot, dry summers, says farmer Brian Pirie.

Brian and his wife Julie milk 840 cows on 234 hectares on the western Hauraki Plains near Thames. First planted in autumn 2010, Base AR37 is a strong, densely tillered plant, says Brian. "Cows milk very well on it and production is ahead."

"Being a high quality feed, farmers need to be aware that cows will clean Base tetraploid ryegrass paddocks out quite hard so they need to be careful not to overgraze. In extreme hot, dry conditions in the Waikato we will rotate cows off a paddock if necessary, or use supplement to adjust grazing residue levels. On our farm we can also adjust the herd size to suit the paddock.

"If you manage it well, it performs very well."

Base AR37 forms part of RD1's White Pasture Pack, available through your local RD1 store.

SPECIES: Tetraploid Perennial Ryegrass

ENDOPHYTE TYPE: AR37

STOCK SUITABILITY: Dairy, sheep and beef

DIPLOID/TETRAPLOID: Tetraploid

SEASONAL GROWTH/FLOWERING DATE: Very late - 22 days later than Nui

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: High yielding, densely tillered plants

Pack contents:

Base Performance Bred® Tetraploid Perennial Ryegrass  22kg
Grasslands Kopu II Performance Bred® Large Leaf White Clover  2kg
Grasslands Bounty Performance Bred® Medium Leaf White Clover  1kg
Total pack weight 25kg

Interested in Base? Ask your RD1 Technical Sales Representative about the RD1 White Pasture Pack.