Shogun

Description

Shogun Italian tetraploid ryegrass is a hybrid cultivar that features the benefits of both Italian and perennial ryegrass. It is an exceptionally high-yielding ryegrass that grows like Italian ryegrass in winter, and is similar to a perennial in summer with the enhanced palatability of a tetraploid. These characteristics make it a good option nationally, either for establishing as a 1-3 pasture or undersowing established pasture for an additional nutritional boost. As well as being valued for its high yield and rapid establishment, it also has excellent regrowth following grazing or cutting. Shogun contains NEA endophyte, further boosting its yield potential and providing a wide range of insect control such as protection from black beetle and root aphid.

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.