Introduction
Tall fescue (festuca arundinacea) is a native of temperate Europe
and Asia, and was one of the first grasses used in the higher
rainfall districts of Australia.
It is a deep-rooted perennial, best adapted to cool climates with
average annual rainfall of at least 600mm with reliable summer
incidence. It is resistant to cold and frost and prefers fertile soils.
It will tolerate poor drainage, relatively high salinity
(<4 ds/m2) and rather acid soils.
With this background it has been widely sown in areas of the
northern tablelands NSW as the major perennial grass; in mixes
in central tablelands NSW, and on heavier soils in the more
winter dominant rainfall regions of southern tablelands and
slopes NSW, north-east and southern Victoria.
This development has all been based on the spring-autumn
active continental or European type tall fescue. Over the past 10
years Wrightson has developed and commercialized a new type
of tall fescue - a winter-active, summer-dormant (Mediterranean
type) - Resolute.
This development has changed the scope for tall fescue to
increase its fit into the winter-dominant rainfall areas of Australia
as well as some lower rainfall regions, down to 450 mm rainfall.
Advantages of tall fescue
There has been a large swing in demand for both continental
and Mediterranean types for a number of reasons. Many
producers in southern Australia have traditionally sown perennial
pastures based on perennial ryegrass and phalaris - and found
benefits for tall fescue over these species.
Staggers - All tall fescues sold in Australia until recently have had
nil endophyte and as such stock grazing them are not at risk from
either perennial ryegrass staggers or phalaris toxicity.
Some “novel” endophytes (MaxP), are being introduced to
improve pest tolerance and persistence of tall fescue, and these
pose nil risk to endophyte toxicity problems.
Animal performance
A recently completed three-year study of six grasses (three tall
fescues, two perennial ryegrasses, plus one phalaris) under a
replicated grazing experiment at Cressy Research Station
Tasmania, resulted in tall fescue cultivars ranking first, second
and third.
There was no difference in winter and spring performance but
significant differences in summer and autumn-periods where
both feed quality and quantity are severely tested on most
Australian farms (see results table page 21).
Persistence
Being deep-rooted, tall fescue is more persistent than perennial
ryegrass, but not as persistent as phalaris. It will however persist
in areas where high aluminium levels preclude phalaris.
(reference: Wrightson Research, Bathurst NSW site)
Heat tolerance
Being summer-active, continental tall fescue is extremely tolerant
of hot conditions and well suited to summer irrigation. It has
higher water use efficiency than perennial ryegrass. (reference:
Wrightson Research, Gundagai NSW site).
For this reason it is better suited than perennial ryegrass, and has
higher quality than paspalum for the hot climate inland irrigation
areas of central and southern NSW, northern Victoria and Murray
swamps of South Australia.
GRAZING MANAGEMENT
- Tall fescue should be grazed carefully until it is fully established.
- Allow plants to reach 10-12 cm and check to ensure they are
firmly rooted before first grazing.
- The first grazing should be quick (one or two days), with a high
stocking rate down to a residual of 1200-1500 kg DM/ha (5 cm).
- After the first grazing, the pasture must be spelled until the grass
has regrown to 10-12 cm.
- Tall fescue should be maintained at 5-12 cm high by frequent
(14-30 days) rotational grazing, or set stocking with animal
numbers adjusted regularly to maintain pasture at 6-10 cm.
- As soil moisture dries out, grazing pressure should be reduced
and stock completely removed when pasture height gets below 5 cm.
- Pasture must not be grazed again until summer or autumn rain
produces fescue growth to at least 10 cm.
- Treat tall fescue carefully in the first autumn after sowing as it does
a lot of tillering at this time and is prone to pulling in dry soils.
- After establishment year do not graze closely (less than 3 cm) , nor
allow fescue to get too rank (more than 15 cm).
- Excellent weed control especially when Autumn sowing.
- Must be drilled with good levels of fertility in the drill line.
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