A COMPARISON OF COCKSFOOT‐ AND TALL FESCUE‐DOMINANT SWARDS FOR OUT‐OF‐SEASON PRODUCTION

Abstract

Swards based on a mixture of SI 70 tall fescue and S215 meadow fescue were very early in spring, gave high yields for conservation in mid‐season and, rested from mid‐August, gave good grazing in November‐December. Under this treatment, the tall fescue assumed dominance, and the swards were persistent and remained productive. The digestibility of the tall fescue swards was always higher than that of swards based on cocksfoot with which they were compared. During spring and autumn the former sward was better grazed by stock, but the position was reversed in mid‐summer. Cattle grazing tall‐fescue‐dominant swards made better liveweight gains than those grazing cocksfoot swards during November‐December.