Grasses
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39 products
39 products
Sorghum is a warm-season, high-yielding forage hybrid designed to produce bulk feed rapidly. It thrives in full sun and warm soil conditions, and is especially suitable for summer grazing or silage when perennial pastures are under pressure from heat and dry conditions.
Plant when soil temperature is 15-16C and rising.
Grows in low rainfall areas.
Sowing Rate: 35kg per hectare
Key benefits
- Provides a strong feed option during summer feed gaps or when pasture growth has declined.
- Supports high-stocking systems by delivering bulk feed quickly.
- Helps maintain feed supply and animal performance in warm or dry-season conditions.
Savvy Cocksfoot is a high-yielding, very productive perennial cocksfoot cultivar developed for New Zealand dryland and summer-stress environments. It is characterised by soft leaves, long leaf length, and a significantly reduced seed-head production under grazing (low aftermath heading) - meaning it stays leafy and palatable longer.
| Persistence | 5+ Years |
|---|---|
| endophyte | Nil |
| Sowing rate |
2-3kg per hectare in a mix |
| heading date | Mid |
| Best used for | Grazing, Hay, Silage |
- Excellent autumn and winter production with strong spring and summer growth in dryland or heat-stress conditions.
- Soft, leafy growth habit with a long leaf length and tiller structure well-suited for cattle and sheep grazing.
- Low seed-head development under grazing, improving palatability and feed utilisation.
- Strong disease tolerance and good performance in lower fertility soils.
Tabu+ is a high-performing, diploid Italian ryegrass selected for its rapid establishment, strong cool-season growth and excellent palatability. It is especially effective as a short-rotation feed crop, an undersow into run-out pasture or as a winter-spring feed boost in pastoral systems. Tabu+ combines fast growth with high dry matter production in cooler months, making it a solid choice when you need early feed and high-utilisation forage.
| Persistence | Up to 24 Months |
|---|---|
| endophyte | Nil |
| Sowing rate |
25-30kg per hectare |
| heading date | Mid |
| Best used for | Grazing, Hay, Silage |
- Delivers high-quality feed early, ideal for winter or early spring grazing/cutting cycles.
- Bridges feed gaps and gives reliable bulk when needed most.
- Maximises utilisation by animals due to high palatability and rapid growth.
- Flexible pasture management option: usable either for fast turnaround or short-term pasture performance.
- Provides value in undersowing situations - rejuvenates older pasture with a performance boost
Rocket Italian Ryegrass is a fast-establishing Italian ryegrass cultivar selected for rapid growth and quality feed, particularly suited to winter/early-spring grazing and silage systems. Its strong early strike and good regrowth make it a valuable short-to-medium term pasture option
| Persistence | Up to 24 Months |
|---|---|
| endophyte | Nil |
| Sowing rate |
18-20kg per hectare for oversowing |
| heading date | Mid |
| Best used for | Grazing, Hay, Silage |
- Rapid establishment: Excellent for quickly producing feed after sowing or renovation.
- High feed quality: Italian ryegrass type delivers good palatability and digestibility.
- Strong early and mid-season production: Suitable for pastoral systems needing early feed.
- Short-to-medium term use: Designed to perform in feed-gap scenarios or as a crop pasture component.
- Flexible grazing or silage use: Works well for both stock grazing and conservation (silage/hay) when managed.
Tama Annual Ryegrass is a broad-leafed, erect-growing tetraploid annual ryegrass developed for rapid, high-quality feed production. It is particularly well suited to autumn sowing for winter grazing or baleage, offering excellent cold-season growth and high palatability.
| Persistence | Up to 9 Months |
|---|---|
| endophyte | Nil |
| Sowing rate | 27-32kg per hectare |
| heading date | Mid |
| Best used for | Grazing, Hay, Silage |
- Provides a quick, high-quality feed source when autumn sowing is possible - ideal to bridge feed gaps during winter and early spring.
- Stock-preferred feed type thanks to high palatability - likely to improve utilisation, intake and livestock performance.
- Extended leafy phase due to later heading, meaning more usable feed before seed-head formation.
- Suitable for systems where short-term high feed output is the goal rather than long-term pasture longevity.
Fascinate is a short-rotation, high-sugar annual Italian ryegrass developed for rapid establishment and high-yield bulk feed. It’s ideal for winter or early spring feed crops, silage or grazing. It performs well in a variety of soil types and offers excellent palatability.
| Persistence | Up to 9 Months |
|---|---|
| endophyte | |
| Sowing rate | 30-35kg per hectare |
| heading date | Mid |
| Best used for | Grazing, Hay, Silage |
- Provides a quick, high-yield feed option when you need to bridge feed gaps (winter/spring) or build feed fast.
- Supports efficient animal production: better palatability and nutritional value mean livestock can perform well.
- Flexible: usable for grazing or silage applications, and suitable as a short-term pasture or feed-crop component.
- Good value for short-term feed needs - less investment in long-term persistence, ideal for strategic sowing.
- High sugar content, converts nitrates to sugars faster than other annuals
Mohaka is a tetraploid hybrid ryegrass bred for New Zealand finishing, run-off, undersowing and supplementary pasture applications. It combines the vigour of Italian genetics with the persistence of perennial ryegrass, offering strong early growth, good winter and spring feed..
| Persistence | 2-3 Years |
|---|---|
| endophyte | AR1, AR128 |
| Sowing rate | 27-32kg per hectare |
| heading date | Late |
| Best used for | Grazing, Hay, Silage |
- Provides high-quality feed early in the season and maintains production through into autumn.
- Ideal for 2-4 year pasture rotations or finishing runs where fast and dense feed is needed.
- Better persistence than standard Italian ryegrasses, reducing the need for very frequent re-sowing.
- Strong option for dairy, sheep or beef systems needing dependable feed with good animal uptake.
- With AR37 endophyte, offers improved resistance to key pests and improved sward longevity.
Nui is one of the most widely sown perennial ryegrass cultivars in New Zealand. It is valued for its reliable performance, good persistence, and adaptability across a broad range of soil and climatic conditions.
| Persistence | 5+ Years |
|---|---|
| endophyte | High, Nil |
| Sowing rate | 25-30kg per hectare |
| heading date | Early |
| Best used for | Grazing, Hay, Silage |
- Proven reliability: Nui is a safe choice when you need a dependable pasture foundation rather than a specialised high-performance cultivar.
- Versatile across soil types and climatic zones in NZ.
- Cost-effective: As a widely adopted cultivar, seed and input costs tend to be reasonable and risk low.
- Good compatibility: Works well with clovers and herbs in mixed pastures, for farmers wanting a balanced base rather than maximum yield only.
Kahu Timothy is a New Zealand-bred perennial timothy cultivar known for its nutrient richness and excellent feed quality. It is especially suited for moist, fertile soils, silage and hay production, and grazing systems where high-quality forage is desired.
| Persistence | 3-5 Years |
|---|---|
| endophyte | Nil |
| Sowing rate |
1-2kg per hectare in a mix |
| heading date | Late |
| Best used for | Grazing, Hay, Silage |
- Provides premium feed quality for systems aiming for high animal intake, milk production or weight gain.
- Extends the seasonal feed window thanks to the late heading and prolonged leaf phase.
- Ideal for silage/hay production where feed conservation and quality matter.
- Good option for pastures on fertile, moist soils where other grasses may reach maturity faster.
- Suitable for livestock systems that prioritise quality over sheer quantity or rapid turnover.
Note: Saxon Diploid Ryegrass is only available through Wesco as part of a custom pasture mix and cannot be purchased as a standalone product.
DENSELY TILLARED HIGH PREFORMING RYEGRASS
Saxon is a traditional-style diploid perennial ryegrass renowned for its density, persistence, and reliability under New Zealand conditions. Saxon delivers excellent early spring growth, strong sward structure, and long-term durability under regular grazing.
This hardy, proven variety forms the foundation of many of Wesco’s most dependable pasture mixes, offering exceptional persistence and resilience in both dryland and higher rainfall systems.
| Persistence | 5+ Years |
|---|---|
| endophyte | High Endophyte, Nil Endophyte |
| Sowing rate |
23-27kg per hectare |
| heading date | Plus 3 Days |
| Best used for | Grazing |
- Older well proven ryegrass.
- Does not pull even in peat.
Redefine Cocksfoot is a modern, fine-tillered cocksfoot cultivar designed especially for summer-dry and low-fertility regions. Unlike older cocksfoot types that can dominate and suppress clovers, Redefine has a controlled, cooperative growth habit so it mixes well with ryegrass and legumes while providing strong summer feed and persistence
| Persistence | 5+ Years |
|---|---|
| endophyte | Nil |
| Sowing rate |
2-3kg per hectare in a mix |
| heading date | Mid |
| Best used for | Grazing, Hay, Silage |
- Extends productive pasture through the summer when many cool-season grasses slow or fail.
- Enhances pasture resilience in low-input or low-fertility soils - less reliant on high fertiliser inputs.
- Improved animal feed quality via softer-leaf growth and high tiller count - supporting better grazing utilisation.
- Works well as a component in mixtures with ryegrass and legumes, thereby improving overall pasture system stability and diversity.
Vision Cocksfoot is a high-yielding perennial cocksfoot cultivar designed for New Zealand conditions. With a semi-erect to erect growth habit and fine stem and leaf form, it provides strong feed across all seasons - particularly offering excellent performance in summer-dry, low-fertility or heat-stress environments.
| Persistence | 5+ Years |
|---|---|
| endophyte | Nil |
| Sowing rate |
2-3kg per hectare in a mix |
| heading date | Mid |
| Best used for | Grazing, Hay, Silage |
- Extends productive pasture into summer when other species decline, maintaining feed supply and supporting stock condition.
- Ideal for summer-dry farms, hard-to-establish paddocks, or as part of resilient pasture mixes.
- Provides a reliable, long-term grass component that increases pasture stability and reduces the need for frequent re-sowing.
- Works well alongside ryegrass and clover mixes to boost performance while maintaining palatability and persistence.
Crown Royal Cocksfoot is a specialist perennial grass known for its excellent persistence, drought tolerance, and suitability in summer-dry or low-fertility pastures. Cocksfoot in general is highly valued in New Zealand farming systems for its ability to maintain ground cover, provide feed during warmer seasons, and resist harsh conditions where other grasses may weaken.
| Persistence | 5+ Years |
|---|---|
| endophyte | Nil |
| Sowing rate |
2-3kg per hectare in a mix |
| heading date | Mid |
| Best used for | Grazing, Hay, Silage |
- Extends the productive season of pasture through summer and into early autumn when other grasses may fail.
- Reduces risk of bare ground or rapid decline in dry conditions thanks to deep-rooting and durable sward structure.
- Lowers reliance on high fertility or intensive management because of its tolerance of poorer soils.
- Supports improved pasture longevity - less frequent renovation or reseeding required compared to some other species.
FineFeed is a fine-leaved, diploid annual ryegrass bred to deliver rapid establishment, high tiller density and strong recovery under heavy grazing. Suited to a wide range of environments - especially where tougher conditions or heavier grazing make tetraploids less resilient.
With its robust growth and excellent feed quality, FineFeed is an ideal choice for farmers seeking a reliable annual ryegrass for winter/spring feed, silage or grazing systems.
| Persistence | Up to 9 Months |
|---|---|
| endophyte | Nil |
| Sowing rate | 27-32kg per hectare |
| heading date | Late |
| Best used for | Grazing, Hay, Silage |
- Rapid Feed Establishment: Quick germination and strong growth provide early feed when needed.
- High Quality Forage: Fine leaf, high density structure contributes to palatability and nutritive value.
- Resilient Under Grazing: Adapted to heavier grazing regimes and tough pasture situations.
- Flexible Use: Ideal for grazing, silage/hay or as a component in mixed pasture systems.
Moata is an older but still widely used tetraploid Italian ryegrass in New Zealand. It establishes quickly, delivers high winter and spring growth, and offers excellent palatability. It is particularly suited for grazing or baleage systems and performs well across a range of soil and climatic conditions.
| Persistence | Up to 24 Months |
|---|---|
| endophyte | Nil |
| Sowing rate | 27-32kg per hectare |
| heading date | Late |
| Best used for | Grazing, Hay, Silage |
- Enables fast feed production for grazing or baleage, ideal to bridge feed gaps.
- Delayed heading date means a longer period of high-quality leafy feed compared to earlier heading varieties.
- Strong palatability and intake support animal performance.
- Flexible use: suitable for beef, dairy or sheep systems in autumn sowing and early spring feed.
- Because of its adaptability, it provides a reliable option when establishing feed in variable soil or climatic conditions.
Fury is a high-yielding, late-flowering tetraploid ryegrass selected for rapid establishment, excellent winter and spring growth. It is ideal as a short-term feed crop - whether for grazing, silage or hay - and is especially suited for autumn sowing and cool-season feed production
| Persistence | Up to 9 Months |
|---|---|
| endophyte | Nil |
| Sowing rate | 27-32kg per hectare |
| heading date | Late |
| Best used for | Grazing, Hay, Silage |
- Provides fast growth and quality feed when you need to bridge seasonal feed gaps (e.g., autumn sowing into winter/spring).
- Maintains leafy growth later into the season - useful where earlier-heading grasses go to seed too soon.
- Well-suited for short-term pasture applications (e.g., 6–12 months) including grazing, silage or hay production.
- Enables good utilisation and feed quality thanks to tetraploid traits and late heading
Splice Hybrid Ryegrass is a high-performance tetraploid inter-species cross combining perennial ryegrass, Italian ryegrass, meadow fescue and tall fescue. This cultivar has been specifically bred for New Zealand conditions to deliver rapid establishment, strong year-round growth, and excellent feed quality, along with improved persistence under grazing and summer stress.
| Persistence | 1-3 Years |
|---|---|
| endophyte | AR1, Nil |
| Sowing rate | 27-32kg per hectare |
| heading date | Late |
| Best used for | Grazing, Hay, Silage |
- Delivers premium feed quality for high-output systems - improved animal performance from earlier and continuous feed.
- Extends the grazing window - late heading keeps the sward leafy and productive later into spring.
- Versatile: works for dairy, beef, sheep or deer systems needing a high-performance pasture component.
- Strong in both grazing and silage applications due to its robust growth and persistence profile.
Shogun Hybrid Ryegrass is a premium tetraploid, perennial × Italian ryegrass hybrid. It combines the quick strike and high winter/spring production of Italian ryegrasses with the improved longevity and summer yield traits of perennial ryegrasses. Ideal for short-to-medium term pasture (1-3 years) or as an undersowing option to boost existing swards
| Persistence | 1-3 Years |
|---|---|
| endophyte | NEA, NEA12, Nil |
| Sowing rate | 27-32kg per hectare |
| heading date | Mid |
| Best used for | Grazing, Hay, Silage |
- Delivers strong early feed and high-yield production for finishing, dairying or grazing systems requiring rapid results.
- Rapid time to graze post‐sowing - less down‐time for paddocks.
- High palatability means livestock utilise more feed, improving performance and intake.
Hypa is a high-performance tetraploid hybrid ryegrass that blends the best of Italian and perennial ryegrass genetics. Designed for rapid establishment and year-round production, Hypa delivers strong, high-quality forage and is equally suited for short-rotation pasture or over-sowing into existing swards.
| Persistence | 1-3 Years |
|---|---|
| endophyte | Nil |
| Sowing rate | 27-32kg per hectare |
| heading date | Late |
| Best used for | Grazing, Hay, Silage |
- High quality, palatable feed that supports animal performance across livestock classes.
- Durable and persistent under variable conditions and grazing pressure.
- Flexible management options - can be used as a dedicated stand or to reinforce/over-sow existing pasture.
- Reduced risk of feed gaps thanks to extended seasonal growth window.
Active Hybrid Ryegrass is a long-rotation hybrid ryegrass that combines the persistence of perennial ryegrass with the rapid growth and feed quality of Italian ryegrass.
With its strong tillering habit, fine leaf, and high palatability, Active offers exceptional grazing value for sheep, beef, and dairy systems throughout New Zealand.
| Persistence | 1-3 Years |
|---|---|
| endophyte | Low Endophyte |
| Sowing rate | 27-32kg per hectare |
| heading date | Mid |
| Best used for | Grazing, Hay, Silage |
- Hybrid strength: Combines the vigour of Italian ryegrass with the persistence of perennial ryegrass.
- Rapid establishment: Quick to strike and ready for grazing sooner after sowing.
- High feed quality: Produces dense, leafy, highly digestible feed for all livestock classes.
- Strong cool-season growth: Excellent winter and early-spring production to fill seasonal feed gaps.
- High palatability: Fine-leafed, dark green sward that livestock prefer and graze efficiently.
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We are a family-based business that lives and breathes farming. In 1937, we purchased our first family property for growing seed crops in North Canterbury. Four generations and 86 years later in 2023, we are still immersed in the industry.
We are a family-based business that lives and breathes farming. In 1937, we purchased our first family property for growing seed crops in North Canterbury. Four generations and 86 years later in 2023, we are still immersed in the industry.
