What perennial ryegrass should be the backbone of my pasture in the South West?
We recommend Dunstan Perennial Ryegrass, a diploid perennial that makes a great backbone for a pasture plan. It produces high-quality feed through winter and spring, with strong rust resistance and persistence. It suits areas with 600mm+ rainfall on sandy to heavy soils with a pH of 5.5 (CaCl2) or more. Sow at 15 to 25 kg/ha.
Which perennial grass has the best chance of finishing strong in a variable season?
Dunstan Perennial Ryegrass has mid maturity, which gives it a good chance of finishing strong in a variable season. It is neither the earliest nor the latest to head, and it produces high-quality feed during winter and spring. It is a persistent diploid perennial with strong rust resistance, suited to 600mm+ rainfall.
What's a good seeding rate for a diploid perennial ryegrass?
For Dunstan Perennial Ryegrass, a diploid perennial, we recommend 15 to 25 kg/ha. It suits sandy to heavy soils with a pH of 5.5 (CaCl2) or more in 600mm+ rainfall areas, and produces high-quality winter and spring feed with strong rust resistance and persistence.
What perennial grass copes with slightly salty patches in a good paddock?
Dunstan Perennial Ryegrass tolerates mild salinity, so it can suit paddocks with slightly salt-affected patches in higher-rainfall areas. For more severe salt scalds, we suggest Puccinellia or Tyrrell Tall Wheatgrass instead. Dunstan suits sandy to heavy soils and 600mm+ rainfall, and gives high-quality winter and spring grazing on the better parts of the paddock.
Is there a ready-made perennial pasture mix for the South West?
Our SouWest Pasture Mix includes Dunstan Perennial Ryegrass alongside two annual ryegrasses, Abundant Tetraploid Annual Ryegrass and Dargo Diploid Italian Ryegrass, plus sub and aerial clovers, and suits dryland sowing in 500mm+ rainfall. If you want a pasture built around Dunstan instead, our Mix & Match Custom Pasture Blends can be tailored to your paddock, soil, rainfall and livestock.
What should I sow with perennial ryegrass for cattle in high-rainfall country?
We suggest pairing Dunstan Perennial Ryegrass with a legume such as Haifa White Clover or, above 750mm, the later-maturing Leura Subterranean Clover, and adding Tonic Plantain or Six Point Chicory for summer quality. The legumes supply nitrogen and protein, while Dunstan provides reliable winter and spring feed.
How should I graze a new perennial ryegrass pasture in its first year?
With Dunstan Perennial Ryegrass, graze lightly once plants are well anchored and won't pull out, then graze rotationally so plants can recover. Avoid hard grazing over the first summer, as careful first-year management builds a persistent pasture. Dunstan suits 600mm+ rainfall and gives high-quality winter and spring feed.
Can perennial ryegrass cause staggers in my livestock?
Perennial ryegrass can cause staggers when it carries certain endophytes. We don't list an endophyte level for Dunstan Perennial Ryegrass, so check the endophyte status of the seed with us before sowing. Where staggers is a concern, our very low endophyte AusVic Perennial Ryegrass is designed to prevent it.
Is Dunstan ryegrass any good for hay or silage?
Dunstan Perennial Ryegrass is a grazing perennial, valued for high-quality winter and spring feed, strong rust resistance and persistence, so we do not recommend it for hay or silage. For dedicated fodder, our Silahay Pasture Mix or an annual ryegrass such as Abundant Tetraploid Annual Ryegrass, which has excellent silage and hay attributes, is a better choice.
Dunstan vs AusVic perennial ryegrass, which suits my farm?
Dunstan Perennial Ryegrass is a mid-maturity diploid perennial for 600mm+ rainfall, with strong rust resistance and persistence. AusVic Perennial Ryegrass is an early heading, very low endophyte perennial for 550mm+ dryland areas, designed to stop staggers and regenerate from seed. In slightly drier, shorter-season country AusVic often suits better; in reliable higher rainfall, Dunstan.
