Description
Moata is an older annual tetraploid Italian Ryegrass cultivar. Compared to other cultivars, it has large leaves and an erect growth habit. A great performer, Moata establishes quickly, is high yielding and very palatable. It is a cultivar typically sown in autumn or early spring that provides good growth in both winter and spring months. Due to Moata’s high palatability, rotational grazing is recommended to avoid it being overgrazed. Moata has a longer rotation than our alternative annual Italian Tama.
Italian Ryegrasses
These cultivars are characterised by their fast establishment and ability to produce high DM yields over winter and early spring. Under good conditions, they establish quickly and are typically ready for grazing about 4 – 6 weeks following sowing. Annual species are less persistent and are normally autumn sown as a 6 – 8 month winter/spring feed. In areas where summers are mild with adequate moisture levels and low pest pressures, they can persist for 1 – 2 years. Typically, Italian ryegrasses last 12 – 18 months in drier areas, and 3 years or more in milder summer conditions. Italian ryegrasses keep growing into summer. Over a 12-month period, they produce 15 t DM/ha. Yields will vary widely depending on conditions and if irrigated, or yields can vary between 20t DM/ha under optimal conditions to as low as 10 t DM/ha. We have a selection of short and long-rotation Italian ryegrass cultivars, including high-sugar performers that are suitable to plant between-season cereal crops or as a bulk feed crop.