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Quality cultivars fromQuality cultivars from

For persistence and yield, choose Choice perennial chicory over Biennial chicory’sA recent CSIRO study compared the production and persistence of chicory varieties in a 3 year trial across NSW, VIC and SA.

Key findings were that Choice performed extremely well:

- Choice produced the most drymatter when averaged across all five trial sites at the end of three years over the other chicory varieties

- Choice had the highest plant persistence at the end of three years over the other chicory varieties including Chico, Commander and Grouse

For the full CSIRO paper Evaluation of chicory cultivars and accessions for forage in south-eastern Australia, Guangdi D. Li et al. visit www.agricom.com.au/products/herbs/chicory

For more information on Chicory and how it could work on your farm download the Dairy Australia 30-30 Chicory document on the Agricom website – www.agricom.com.au/products/herbs/chicory

DistriibutorsAgricom cultivars are available from all quality seed suppliers.For further information and advice contact one of our distributors:

AusWest Seeds Stephen Pasture Seeds Smyth Seeds NSW & QLD 1800 224 987 VIC, SA, TAS 03 5335 8055 VIC, STH NSW 03 5762 5288

QUALITYFEED YOU CAN

RELY ONBRASSICA & HERB GUIDE

• Perennialherbwithpersistence of 3-4 years

• HighME(+12mJME/KgDM)

• Highsummerdrymatterproduction

• Improvedcoolseasongrowth

• Selectedforlowerlactucinlevels

The productive and persistent perennial chicoryChoice is a perennial herb with a deep tap root, high forage quality and high warm-season pasture growth. Choice chicory has been proven on farms and in trials to improve production both per animal and per hectare in sheep, beef and dairy systems.

Thedeep(1.5-2metres)tap-rootednatureofChoicechicorycanresultinconsistentgrowth rates and forage quality, even during hot or dry periods. Choice chicory is relatively inexpensive to establish compared with ryegrass/clover pastures. Choice chicorycanbeaddedtonewgrasspasturemixes(e.g.2kg/ha)toboostanimalperformance and feed production.

Sowing dates and grazing times for Choice chicory

SuggestedSowing Time

Suggested Sowing Ratekg/ha

Time to First Grazing

Grazing Management Persistence

Soil temperatures 10°C and rising

Pure stand: 4-6

Perennial pasture mix: 1-4

Subsequent perennial stand with 1-2kg forage brassica, 3-5kg Choice

6 to 10 weeks

Rotational or set stock

Perennial 3-4+yearsdepending on grazing conditions

Seeds for all Seasons

Sowing dates and grazing times for Australian Purple Top turnip

SuggestedSowing Time

Suggested Sowing Rate Alone Time to First Grazing Number of

GrazingsPotential Yield (dependingonnumberofgrazings)

September to January 1-2 kg/ha 12 to 14 weeks 1 Up to 10 t/ha

HIGH YIELDING SHEEP & BEEF OPTION

• SelectedforimprovedDiamondbackMothtolerance

• 12-14weekstomature,summerturnip

• Selectedindrylandconditions

• CertifiedalternativetoMammothPurpleTopturnip

AustralianPurpleTopisaVictorianselectionfromthereliableEnglish-bredMammothPurpleTopturnip.

As its name suggests, Australian Purple Top is a purple top/white base, bulb-type turnip used traditionally in hard, drier regions, for summer feed. The key advances of this variety is the selection for improved drought and DiamondbackMothtolerance.

• Valuableyear-roundproduction

• Sourceofkeyminerals

• Strongcoolseasongrowth

• Degreeofdroughttolerancedue to coarse deep root system

• Suitsawiderangeofenvironments and soil conditions

Tonic plantain is a mineral-rich perennial grazing herb. It is a valuable pasture for the supply of minerals and dry matter production, particularly in drier regions and less fertile conditions.

Tonic plantain provides opportunities for sheep, beef and dairy farmers to improve livestock production and performance. Tonic plantain is a suitable option for farmers running flocks of late-lambing ewes, lambing ewe hoggets, or winter lamb-finishing, to create pastures that until now have been the domain of grasses.

Tonic pastures offer some great animal performance potential, particularly in winter and spring, as well as supporting a high level of animal health, reduced incidence of dags and good micronutrient supply.

Tonic is highly palatable and is preferentially grazed. Tonic suits grazing management similar to ryegrass, with potential yields like that of perennial ryegrass. Ideally a 20-25 day rotation will maintain seedhead palatability through late spring and summer. A grazing rotation of greater than 40 days can lead to a reduction in palatability, particularly of older leaves. Older leaves do not brown or break down as fast as grass species, and can stay in the sward for months, becoming more fibrous and less palatable toyoungerstock.Ithasbeenobservedyoungstock(lambsandcalves)tendtopreferentiallygrazethegrowingpointsoftheTonic. Post grazing residuals of 2-4cm are quite sustainable as long as the pastures are not set stocked at these levels for extended periods. For more information download the Tonic Agnote at www.agricom.com.au

Sowing dates and grazing times for Tonic plantain

SuggestedSowing Time

Suggested Sowing Ratekg/ha

Time to First Grazing

Grazing Management Persistence

Soil temperatures 10ºC and rising

Pure stand: 8-10

Perennial pasture mix: 2-3

Subsequent perennial stand with 1-2kg forage brassica: 6-8

Specialist crop with chicory & clover: 4-5Lucerne stand: 2-3

8 to 10 weeks

Rotational graze or set stock

Perennial 3-5+yearsdepending on grazing conditions

GRAZING MANAGEMENT

THE FLEXIBLE FORAGE HERB

Coarse deep root system adds drought tolerance

KevinMcRae,Mangoplah Gary Herd, Laggan

Scott Hann, Ballata Scott Wheatley, Aberdeen

PROVEN IN THE AUSTRALIAN MARKET FOR YOUR FARMING SYSTEM

• Earlymaturing,10-12weeks

• Highleaftostemratioforexcellentutilisationrates

• Regrowthpotentialfor3-4grazings

• Tolerantofdryconditionsonceestablished

• Idealforsummer,autumnandwinterfeed

TrialworkwasundertakentocompareWinfred(shorttypebrassica)versusGreenland (talltypebrassica).

Thereisconsiderablevariationbetweenforagebrassica(rape)cultivarsintherelativeproportion of leaf and stem, and the various qualities of these plant components. In general, short rape types have a higher percentage of leaf relative to the total yield than tall rape types.

The leaves of rape plants are high quality regardless of the rape type however, the quality of the rape stem decreases from the top to the bottom.

Short types generally have higher quality in the bottom two thirds of the stem compared to taller varieties.

The lowest quality part of the forage brassica plant is the bottom portion of the stem and this makes up a lower proportion of the total yield of Winfred compared to Greenland.

Winfred forage brassica is a cross between a turnip and kale, generally termed a rape. Winfred is a versatile brassica, being suitable for a wide range of soil fertility and environmental conditions, stock classes and sowing times. Winfred has good frost tolerance and excellent regrowth potential, and may extend grazing times from early summer to late winter. Due to the potential of an earlier first grazing, Winfred has the ability to be grazed up to three times through summer and early autumn.

Paddock selection . . .• Useforpasturerenovation,cereal break-crop

• Ensurelivestockhaveaccessto a clean water supply

• Run-offpaddocknearby

• Weedandfertilityissuesaddressed

Preparation . . .• Fine,firm,moistseedbed

• 1-2cmplantingdepthachievable

Sowing . . .• 3-4kg/ha

• Conventionalordirect-drilling

• CanbesownwithherbslikeTonic plantain and Choice chicory or clovers

• UseseedtreatmentincludingGaucho®, fertiliser application

Sowing dates and grazing times for Winfred brassica

SuggestedSowing Time

Suggested Sowing Rate Alone

Time to First Grazing

Number of Grazings

Potential Yield (dependingonnumber ofgrazings)

JulytoSeptemberFebruarytoMay 3-4 kg/ha 10 to 12

weeks 2 to 4 Upto10tDM/ha

Sowing time . . .• 12weeksbeforefeedrequired

• Soiltemperature12oC and rising

• CanbesownfromJulyonwards in appropriate environments

Grazing . . .• Crophasreachedmaturity (10-12weeks)

• Slowstockintroduction

• Dietsupplementedwithanother feedsource(animalintakefor brassicas should not be greater than 33% for dairy, 70% for beef cattle and lambs can consume upto100%)

• Monitoranimalhealth

Winfred planning + grazing checklist

forage Ibrassica plant composition

rely on winfred

PROVEN PERFORMANCE

Winfred has proven its ability in the Australian environment over a number of years.

For proven performance and high regrowth ability look for Winfred forage brassica to deliver quality feed that your animals can convert to meat, milk, wool and helping improve your profitability.

BENEFITS• Highleaftostemratiomeansmoreof the crop is utilised

• Highregrowthpotentialof3-4grazings

• Earlymaturingin10-12weeks

• Earlymaturing,6-8weeks,minimal ripening requirement

• Excellentqualityandforageyieldsinfertile, moist conditions for finishing stock

• Fastrecoveryfromgrazingwithexcellent subsequent yields, given moisture

• Strongplantsurvivalfollowingmultiplegrazings

• Lowproportionofboltingplantsfromamid-late spring sowing

• ToleratesTurnipMosaicVirusandCauliflower MosaicVirusattack

Hunter is a quick-growing, leafy turnip, with minimal bulb development, is best suited to multiple grazings for summer and early-autumn feed requirements.

Hunter is an excellent quality forage capable of providing high liveweight gain on animals.

Hunter was bred for tolerance to turnip mosaic virus and cauliflower mosaic virus. This, combined with selecting for vigorous regrowth, has provided a variety with fast recovery from grazing and excellent ability to yield in the second, third and sometimes fourth regrowth cycle. Plants usually show good resistance to most clubroot races, but they are susceptible to drought and aphids, and are best suited to heavier soil conditions with periodic summer moisture or irrigation.

WHAT’s RIGHT FOR YOU - WINFRED OR HUNTER? or a part area of each?

Sowing dates and grazing times for Hunter brassica

SuggestedSowing Time

Suggested Sowing Rate Alone

Time to First Grazing

Number of Grazings

Potential Yield (dependingonnumber ofgrazings)

September to April given moisture 4 kg/ha 6 to 8 weeks 2 to 4 Upto10tDM/ha

Feed Requirements

Soil Fertility

MoistureRequirement

More than 8 weeks Less than 8 weeks

Low / Medium Medium/High

Sporadic Reliable

“The Winfred has grown fantastically this year, despite one of the driest summers we have experienced for many years; it has grown exceptionally well and has finished a large percentage of our lambs that have gone over the hook to Coles. We have used Winfred for ten years now, we normally sow with millet but this year grew a sole Winfred stand as part of our pasture renovation program.”

David de Pury Yarra Valley, VIC

“I use Winfred as a high quality forge to provide bulk to my ryegrass after sowing in autumn. I sowed Winfred early March and it was ready to graze by Anzac day. This season Winfred has produced more feed on our farm than anything I have ever grown before.”

Scott Wheatley Aberdeen, NSW

“Winfred brassica sown with Choice chicory is ideal for our lamb system, it is complimentary to grazing cereals, winter cleaned clover pasture and lucerne. We sow the Winfred/Choice in either late winter/early spring or in autumn depending on the conditions and the paddock. Being able to use high rates of Trifluralin with the brassica/chicory mix provides the perfect ‘break-crop’ for us before sowing back to lucerne or a perennial pasture. Our lambs have never been better and are earlier to finish, especially the first-cross, often saving a shearing. Paddocks free of grass seed are also a management bonus.”

Bernard & Kevin McRae Mangoplah, NSW

“I was impressed with Winfred’s carrying capacity, livestock performance and the excellent state that it has left my soil in readiness for the next crop. The only change will be to sow a third of the planting area in February and two thirds in May to spread feed supply but I couldn’t be happier - it is such a resilient plant once established, you just can’t kill the stuff, it kept growing.”

Scott Hann Bellata, NSW

“Winfred is an ideal break crop to help control problem grass weeds and more importantly, provide a large quantity of forage for finishing livestock as part of our breeding and finishing enterprises. When it comes to reliable summer feed, Winfred is my first choice. Being a sowing contractor I sow a wide range of products. Other brassicas might have one good benefit, but they do not have the overall reliability and dependability of Winfred.”

Gary Herd Laggan, NSW

% of MJ ME/kg total DM DM

Leaf 44 11.6a

Top of stem 15 11.1a

Mid part 19 10.7a

of stem

Lower stem 22 10.1a

% of MJ ME/kg total DM DM

40 11.8a

12 10.4a

19 8.9b

29 7.1b

Source: Replicated forage brassica trial, Judson unpublished, 2011-2012, NZ.Different superscript letters mean significant cultivar differences exist between Winfred and Greenland within the mid part of stem and lower stem components.

Cultivar WINFRED GreenlandExample:

Comparison of Winfred (short type) and Greenland (tall type) (% of total DM) and Metabolisable Energy Content(MJ ME/kg DM) for Winfred compared to Greenland

Hunter Forage Brassica grazing residual required to maximise live weight gain and crop regrowth

THE QUICKEST MATURING FORAGE BRASSICA

Lambs grazing Winfred at Coldstream, Yarra Valley