- Dramatically improved feed quality in late spring
and summer
- High palatability and increased intake
- Good rust resistance
- Improved animal performance
Tetraploid perennial bred for high animal
performance.
QUARTET is the first persistent tetraploid perennial ryegrass to be
trialed and commercially released in Australia. It should be sown
as the sole grass in the dairy regions of southern Victoria or
Tasmania where rainfall is greater than 850mm or irrigation is
possible.
QUARTET matures 28 days later than traditional perennial
ryegrasses with mid season maturity. It has been selected for
reduced aftermath heading which provides dramatically
improved feed quality in late spring and summer.
In the first three-years of a three year lamb grazing trial run by
Ag Research, QUARTET has been the best performing ryegrass in
the trial. See results below.
What the producers say...
John Shirley and Scott Harlock, dairy producers, Warrnambool VIC
“After the first grazing we started on an 18-day rotation with about 320
cows - but we couldn’t leave the rotation at 18 days because the Quartet
grew at such a prolific rate, so we had to cut it back to a 14-day rotation”.
“It created a huge amount of feed and the cows absolutely loved it - we
have never experienced pasture growth like it before. We are really
delighted with it. The Quartet was in rotation right through autumn and
winter - even in winter it grew better than the other pastures”.
Roger and Pam Swain, Liffey TAS
“Quartet has a good ability to grow back after harvest and doesn’t go to
head quite as much as other ryegrasses,” he said. “It grows a good amount of feed in a short time,” Roger said. “Quartet comes back really well and responds excellently to nutrients,
water and nitrogen.”
Peter Jennings, dairy producer, Bruthen VIC
In autumn 1999 Wrightson Seeds supplied ryegrass seed for a trial in
which two 6 ha areas were sown - one with Quartet and the other with
Bronsyn - mixed with Kopu and Challenge white clovers. In relation to
production, few differences occurred during the winter or early spring
periods. However, as the grasses matured in late spring feed, Quartet
held its early spring quality and generated an extra 1075 litres of milk per
hectare compared with the Bronsyn pasture until the end of summer.
Overall the results from the second year of measurement indicate that,
given the same costs and inputs, Quartet perennial ryegrass was able to
generate an additional $268 ha of milk income compared with Bronsyn.
Noel and Jennifer van Rijthoven, dairy producers, Mt Gambier SA
Quartet tetraploid perennial ryegrass has also proven its worth on the
van Rijthovens’ property by “lasting a bit longer” than some of the other
shorter term species which have been sown specifically for bulk feed.
MANAGEMENT TIPS
- Quartet seed is twice the size of normal seed, so ideally should be
sown at 25-40% higher sowing rate.
- Sow at 25kg/ha in a mix with Superstrike Kopu II and Bounty
white clovers.
- Mixing with high endophyte diploid ryegrass is not recommended.
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