Technology adoption of tall fescue pastures by beef and lamb producers

Summary

This was an on-farm pasture species demonstration and comparison project aimed at increasing the amount of tall fescue pasture sown and utilised successfully. It was also intended to test the performance of tall fescue in marginal environments under good management. The project also tried to improve the knowledge of users on best management practices for the species. In 1994 there were several new cultivars that had been bred to overcome some of the limitations identified for tall fescue.

This project aimed to demonstrate these to farmers, and encourage their use through comparisons conducted on farms. Animal production On average, the pastures sown to new tall fescue cultivars (Tall fescue) produced 28% more liveweight gain per animal and 40% more per hectare than all comparison pastures. There were larger differences in liveweight gain between tall fescue and comparison pastures for sheep than cattle. This may be more related to seasons than animal species as 80% of comparisons with sheep were conducted in summer and autumn, and only 43% for cattle.

There were larger differences in liveweight gain between new and old tall fescue cultivars than between tall fescue and ryegrass, and tall fescue and phalaris. The differences in relativity for ryegrass and phalaris is also influenced by season, with 67% of phalaris measurements taken over winter and spring when phalaris is at its best, and only 22% of ryegrass measurements done in this period. Differences in liveweight gain per hectare between new tall fescue and ryegrass were greatest in autumn and summer. This seems to be mainly due to less pasture growth and therefore less stock able to be carried.

Sheep production differences between all comparison pastures and tall fescue were greatest in summer and autumn. This was due to a combination of faster per head liveweight gain and more pasture growth. It suggests that sheep are more responsive to feed quality differences between new tall fescue cultivars and other pastures. Pasture quality Five feed quality tests of whole pasture taken in conjunction with LWG trials show that, on average, tall fescue pastures had 25% more crude protein than perennial ryegrass comparators