RD1 Orange Pasture Pack

Halo AR37 plays a key role in modernisation

Working across four substantial dairy farms between Morrinsville and Paeroa, brothers Robert and Richard Cookson milk around 2,500 cows.

Over the last four years, with help from Morrinsville RD1 Technical Sales Representative Kieran Casey, Robert and Richard have sown large areas of each farm with tetraploid grasses, and are now using Halo AR37.

Halo was the first tetraploid ryegrass available with AR37, which allows farmers to choose a ryegrass that will not only maximise animal performance, but will also have resistance to more insects helping to improve persistence in many environments. Halo AR37 will survive and produce better than many cultivars where there is insect pressure, especially black beetle, porina, and root aphid when combined with good grazing management.

Robert and Richard have measured greater dry matter yields with the new tetraploid grass varieties as well as improved quality, but considerable time was spent planning how tetraploids are best used in their farming system. "We carefully manage our grazing so the cows don't deck tetraploid pastures," he explains, "that way we maintain our residuals, grow more grass and avoid grass persistence and weed issues."

"We've learned via trial and error (that) we must manage our summer residuals very carefully."

SPECIES: Tetraploid Perennial Ryegrass

ENDOPHYTE TYPE: AR37

STOCK SUITABILITY: All stock. Ryegrass with AR37 is not recommended for deer or horses.

DIPLOID/TETRAPLOID: Tetraploid

SEASONAL GROWTH/FLOWERING DATE: Very strong summer, autumn and winter.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Halo is the first tetraploid perennial ryegrass available with AR37 endophyte. Halo was bred by combining the best tetraploid perennial genetics, with the majority originating from north-west Spain – a region favoured by ryegrass breeders. This provides Halo with very strong winter growth, heat tolerance, summer production and persistence.

Pack contents:

Grasslands Halo Tetraploid Perennial Ryegrass  22kg
Grasslands Tribute White Clover  3kg
Total pack weight 25kg

So for farmers who want the ideal combination of animal performance, seasonal growth and insect tolerance, Halo AR37 is definitely worth planting this autumn. Visit your local RD1 store or Technical Sales Representative for further details.