- Extremely soft and platable leaf
- 15% Improved dry matter production over Vulcan
- Preferentially grazed by stock over other fescues
- Clover friendly grass
Specialist soft fescue for dairy cow grazing, lamb or
beef finishing pastures under irrigation.
In spring 1991, 6 elite plants were selected from the “Vulcan”
breeding program. These plants were crossed with winter active
plants from a Portuguese ecotype. The subsequent population
was subject to 3 selection cycles, with special emphasis on vigour,
softness, and disease resistance.
This material is intended to follow on from Vulcan. Whilst the
quality of Vulcan has been well received, its poor DM
performance in the cool season was a disadvantage. VULCAN II
is demonstrating better DM production, whilst being of similar
softness to Vulcan.
What the producers say...
Lionel and Carol Clayton, Colac VIC
“I was looking for a more summer-productive and palatable fescue and
was told about Wrightson’s new soft-leaved variety Vulcan II,” explained
Lionel, whose herd won the Victorian Dairy Herd of the Year Award in
2000. “I have seen the extra milk in the vat, and I think ‘boy, this is pretty good’.
We were doing 3200 litres a day pretty much over the whole lactation of
about 270 days, so the total for this lactation is going to be up a fair
amount.”
MANAGEMENT TIPS
- Vulcan II should be sown at 20-25 kg/ha with companion clovers
and Puna chicory for horse or deer pastures.
- Vulcan II should be sown in dairy pastures in a mix with Quantum
at 20 -25 kg/ha of tall fescue plus companion legumes and Puna
chicory where suited.
- Established Vulcan II is best suited to rotational grazing systems.
- Vulcan II, like any tall fescue, should never be allowed to become
rank as palatability will decline.
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