Long Rotation Ryegrass
With production of 1300kgMS/ha achieved in the conversion's second year, up from 1150kgMS/ha in its first, the property, River Downs at Croyden near Gore, is believed to be the region's highest producing conversion. The farm, milking 1000 cows, is run by manager and equity partner Shayne Ryan. Now in its third season, the 340 hectare effective property alongside the Mataura River was converted in early 2008 from a former beef finishing farm.
The best performing varieties available were sown, including 95 hectares of Banquet II tetraploid long rotation ryegrass with Endo 5 for under the effluent irrigator. "Banquet II seems to grow strongly all year round. The cows love it," says Shayne. "It has thrived on the heavy soil types and under the effluent irrigator."
The quality of the pasture meant the farm was able to be stocked at 3 cows per hectare from year one, he said.
