Article Summary: Build every paddock on a ryegrass-clover core, then plug seasonal or soil-specific gaps with fast winter annuals, deep-rooted summer herbs, or drought-tolerant grasses like lucerne and tall fescue. Match species to climate, nurture clover with correct pH, and renew thin swards promptly; the right mix lifts year-round dry-matter supply, steadies animal health, and keeps milk flowing when weather turns.
Pasture is the engine room of any grazing dairy business. The mix of species you sow and the way you look after that mix directly shapes how much milk your cows can produce and how resilient your farm remains when the weather turns against you. In New Zealand, perennial ryegrass and white clover shoulder most of the workload, but a wider cast of plants is waiting in the wings. When chosen thoughtfully and managed well, these supporting actors can lift dry‑matter supply, spread risk, and even improve animal health.
Below you’ll find a practical guide that unpacks each of the key species, when they shine, and how to keep every paddock performing.
Ryegrass and Clover: The Cornerstones
Perennial ryegrass earns its status because it responds quickly after grazing, tolerates close defoliation, and delivers dependable growth across all seasons. When ryegrass is paired with white clover, the partnership becomes even more useful. Clover fixes atmospheric nitrogen, feeding both itself and its ryegrass neighbour while lifting protein and energy levels in the forage your herd eats each day.
Yet even this proven duo needs care. Aim to maintain a dense sward with around 20–30 % clover by dry matter. Above that level you gain nitrogen and feed quality; below it, ryegrass can dominate and the clover struggles to reseed. Regular soil testing lets you track pH and nutrient status because clover falters when soil acidity creeps up or potassium drops. Grazing management matters too. Leaving a short residual about 1500 kg DM/ha gives clover the light it needs without exposing soil to pugging.
Think of clover as your silent fertiliser factory. Nodules on its roots can supply the equivalent of 150 kg N/ha each year, but only if you keep the plant healthy. That means avoiding unnecessary nitrogen applications in summer (which tip the balance towards grass) and protecting clover-rich paddocks from set stocking in wet conditions.
Looking Beyond the Mainstays
Even a robust ryegrass‑clover base can fall short in extreme seasons or challenging soils. Adding complementary species gives you extra insurance.
Annual and Italian Ryegrass
Sown in late autumn, these fast starters plug feed gaps through winter and early spring. Their higher cold tolerance and rapid growth rate make them ideal for runoff blocks or paddocks coming out of summer crops. Because they stay vegetative for longer than perennials, you can safely graze them at the three‑leaf stage without losing density.
Chicory and Plantain
When summer temperatures climb and soil moisture dips, deep‑rooted herbs step up. Chicory drives a taproot down to moist layers, delivering leafy forage that remains palatable even when ryegrass wilts. Plantain follows a similar pattern but adds two bonuses: it improves urine‑nitrogen distribution, which can lower nitrate leaching, and its leaves contain secondary compounds that support rumen function.
In practice you might broadcast chicory and plantain into a thinning ryegrass stand in spring, creating a mixed sward that feeds well through late summer then self‑seeds for the following year.
Lucerne (Alfalfa)
On the eastern seaboard, where nor’west dry spells can bite, lucerne offers a high‑protein buffer. Managed under a 35–40‑day rotation and cut just before early bud, lucerne supplies large volumes of quality forage with minimal nitrogen input. Its only caveat is the need for free‑draining, slightly alkaline soil.
Tall Fescue and Cocksfoot
Both grasses handle heat and drought better than ryegrass. Tall fescue keeps its leaves greener for longer, while cocksfoot’s extensive root system mines moisture deep in the profile. Milk production on pure stands may dip because cows take longer to graze these tougher leaves, but mixing 20 % fescue or cocksfoot into ryegrass swards can lift persistence on light soils without hurting intake.
Matching Species to Your Conditions
The art of pasture planning starts with an honest look at your farm’s unique fingerprint: rainfall pattern, temperature range, soil texture, fertility, and pest pressure.
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Climate and Moisture
High‑rainfall districts favour perennial ryegrass cultivars bred for rust resistance and winter activity. Drier districts lean towards drought‑tolerant options such as fescue, lucerne, or herb mixes. -
Soil Type
Heavy clays that hold water suit ryegrass, but may suffocate lucerne. In contrast, sandy loams give lucerne room to thrive but can dry out too quickly for shallow‑rooted annuals without irrigation. -
Endophyte Choice
Modern ryegrass cultivars come with endophyte strains that deter Argentine stem weevil, black‑beetle, and porina. Choose the strain that matches the pests in your district, but keep an eye on animal health; some high‑alkaloid strains can raise the risk of ryegrass staggers in autumn. -
Certified Seed Matters
Purchasing certified seed guarantees germination rates and cultivar purity. Yes, it carries a premium, but the cost of poor establishment—or a paddock full of off‑type grasses—quickly outweighs the saving.
Once you have matched species and cultivars to your paddock, sow at the right time. Autumn sowing provides reliable moisture for ryegrass while spring sowing suits herbs that dislike cold soils. Drill seed at the correct depth (no deeper than 10 mm for clover) to avoid needless losses.
Renovation: Keeping Swards in Shape
Even the best paddock loses vigour over time. Pugging in a wet winter creates bare soil, while a dry summer opens gaps that weeds exploit. Rather than waiting for wholesale failure, adopt a simple Pasture Condition Score—rating each paddock from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent). Target the bottom 10 % every year for renewal.
Oversowing is often all that’s required. Broadcasting 15–20 kg/ha of perennial ryegrass with 4 kg/ha of clover into a damaged sward in early autumn can add a tonne of extra dry matter the following season. Rolling afterwards ensures seed‑soil contact, and a light grazing three weeks later helps sunlight reach germinating seedlings.
When weed burden is high or soil structure has slumped, a full re‑seed pays off. Spray‑out, lightly cultivate, correct pH with lime if needed, then drill the new mix. Although a full renovation removes the paddock from grazing for eight to ten weeks, the pay‑back in feed quality and persistence usually justifies the break.
Day‑to‑Day Care for Long‑Term Payback
Every paddock, whether freshly sown or decades old, responds to consistent stewardship. Rotate your herd to leave a post‑grazing residual around 1500 kg DM/ha, preventing shading of clover while maximising regrowth. Control broadleaf weeds early—short, sharp topping of seed heads or a selective spray in spring keeps thistles and docks in check before they lift root reserves.
Nutrient budgeting rounds out the package. Nitrogen is a useful tactical tool after a cold snap, but regular reliance masks underlying issues such as soil compaction or low organic matter. Instead, feed the soil with strategic potash, sulphur, and trace elements according to soil‑test results.
Lastly, keep accurate paddock records. By tracking sowing dates, fertiliser inputs, grazing intervals, and dry‑matter yields, you build a farm‑specific library that points you to the species and practices that deliver the most feed with the least stress.
Bringing It All Together
Choosing the right pasture species isn’t a one‑off decision; it’s an evolving process that balances today’s feed demand with tomorrow’s resilience. By starting with a healthy ryegrass‑clover base, adding complementary plants to smooth out seasonal dips, and renewing tired paddocks at the right time, you create a forage system that feeds your cows reliably and uses on‑farm resources wisely. Keep walking your paddocks, stay curious about new cultivars, and tweak your plan as conditions change—you’ll soon see the payoff in both pasture covers and the vat.
Until we meet again, Happy Growing!
- The Dedicated Team of Pasture.io, 2025-07-24