As seen in Farm Weekly, 19/02/2026

SouWest Pasture Mix by Irwin Hunter & Co. has earned its reputation as the original and best-known pasture mix in Western Australia.

Proven year-in, year-out, across a wide range of farming systems, soil types and seasonal conditions, SouWest remains the most popular choice for farmers seeking the perfect balance of productivity, diversity and reliability.

SouWest Pasture Mix has been carefully designed and selected for Western Australian conditions and for farmers seeking a high-performing, specialty blend of proven ryegrass and clover varieties that delivers both productivity and balance throughout the growing season, providing strong establishment, consistent seasonal growth, and high-quality feed when it matters most.

Designed for medium to high rainfall environments, SouWest Pasture Mix is ideally suited to farming systems receiving 500mm+ annual rainfall, with a recommended soil pH of 5.0+.

Its flexibility across a wide range of soil types and management systems makes it a dependable choice throughout the South West and surrounding regions where farmers demand both production and resilience from their pastures.

The recommended sowing rate is 15–25kg, although higher sowing rates can increase interplant competition during establishment, resulting in earlier grazing and increased dry matter production when supported by appropriate fertiliser inputs.

With appropriate management, SouWest Pasture Mix can meet the farmer's needs, being suited to silage, haylage, or hay, or continue to deliver high-quality grazing not only in the year of sowing but also well into subsequent seasons if livestock are locked out of the paddock in spring, so that the pasture is left to come to seed.

Diversity is a key advantage of SouWest Pasture Mix.

By combining a reliable selection of ryegrass and clover varieties in a balanced blend, the mix supports improved pasture utilisation, better seasonal feed distribution, and enhanced soil health through nitrogen fixation.

This diversity also creates a more resilient pasture system, that can respond to seasonal variability while maintaining feed quality and animal performance.

Proven Varieties for Consistent Performance

SouWest Pasture Mix combines trusted varieties that have been selected and developed specifically for Western Australian conditions:

  • Abundant Tetraploid annual ryegrass
    High-yielding with a long growing season, Abundant delivers exceptional feed quality and vigour. Its strong stress and disease tolerance supports high production across a wide range of conditions.
  • Dargo Diploid annual ryegrass
    The diploid component adds adaptability, with high winter and early spring production. As a shorter-season variety, Dargo complements Abundant perfectly, providing earlier feed availability and balanced seasonal growth.
  • Dunstan Diploid perennial ryegrass
    A mid-maturing, deep-rooted perennial ryegrass that provides persistence and reliability in medium rainfall zones. Dunstan is known for strong rust resistance and excellent winter and spring feed quality, making it a solid backbone for pasture systems aiming to finish strong in variable seasons.

Diverse Clover Base for Feed Continuity and Soil Health

Clover diversity is a key strength of the SouWest Pasture Mix, improving feed quality and supporting soil health by returning nitrogen to the soil.

  • Black and White Seeded Subterranean clovers perform reliably across a wide range of soils and farming systems, contributing to pasture density and nitrogen fixation.
  • Aerial Seeded clovers, including Arrowleaf, Balansa, Crimson and Persian clovers, extend feed availability by providing both early and late-season production, improving overall pasture utilisation and resilience.

SouWest Pasture Mix is more than just a pasture blend – it's a proven system built on local knowledge, trusted varieties, and on-farm success.

For farmers looking to invest in a pasture that consistently delivers productivity, persistence, and performance in Western Australian conditions, SouWest continues to set the standard.

Contact your local farm supplier or Irwin Hunter & Co for more information regarding the extensive range of pasture seed and mixes.