New Tetila Tetraploid Annual Ryegrass

We recommend Tetila tetraploid annual ryegrass, a very reliable specialist winter crop. It establishes quickly and grows strongly through late autumn, winter and early spring, with production peaking in early to mid spring. It is best suited to medium to heavy soils with good winter and early spring rainfall and a pH of 5 or above.

Tetila tolerates waterlogging and mild salinity, so it's a useful option for slightly salty, wet paddocks. It won't handle severe salt scald, where our Puccinellia or Tall Wheat Grass are better choices. On mildly saline ground, sow Tetila at 25-35 kg/ha together with suitable clovers.

Tetraploids like our Tetila have larger seeds and fewer tillers than diploids, so sowing rates are typically about double diploid rates. For Tetila we recommend 25-35 kg/ha plus clovers, increasing the rate where you apply more fertiliser for extra production. Tetraploids also have larger, darker leaves and higher sugar content.

Tetila is highly palatable, with large, wide, dark green leaves that encourage high animal intake. Tetraploids also carry higher sugar content, adding to their appeal. Because their cells hold more water, they give less dry matter per kilogram of feed than diploids, so we often suggest mixing in a diploid ryegrass for balance.

Yes, we often recommend it. Tetila tetraploid brings palatability, large leaves and quick winter growth, while a diploid such as Dargo adds tiller density and dry matter. Include suitable clovers as well, to lift feed quality and fix nitrogen. A blend gives a more balanced pasture than either type alone.

Tetila is an early-heading tetraploid annual ryegrass, which suits shorter springs where you want to cut before the season finishes. It can be grown for pasture, silage or hay, with production peaking in early to mid spring. Graze it through winter, then close the paddock up in time for the cut.

Our Tetila is produced under the Assure Quality Seedcare accreditation scheme, which protects varietal purity, so you get a genuine tetraploid. It traces to a vigorous tetraploid Italian ryegrass originally imported from the USA and naturally selected over several years in Victorian seed production areas, so it's well adapted to Australian conditions.

Tetila needs good winter and early spring rainfall and performs best on medium to heavy soils, so it suits districts with a reliable growing season. Talk to us about your rainfall zone before sowing. In lower-rainfall wheatbelt areas, a shorter-season diploid such as Wimmera or Safeguard may be more reliable.

Graze Tetila once plants are firmly anchored and won't pull out when tugged, usually once they have a few leaves. Use rotational grazing and leave some leaf behind for quick regrowth. Early grazing encourages tillering, which is useful in tetraploids like Tetila that naturally produce fewer tillers than diploids.

Both are early-heading annual ryegrasses. Tetila is a tetraploid with large, palatable leaves, best on medium to heavy soils. Dargo is a diploid proven across a wide range of soils and shorter seasons from Esperance to Geraldton, and is sown at lower rates. Many farmers sow the two together for a balanced pasture.