USEFULNESS OF COCKSFOOT

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25080, 11 January 1947, Page 5

USEFULNESS OF COCKSFOOT

GRAZING PLANT ON LIGHT LAND CAPACITY TO WITHSTAND DRY SUMMERS Although cocksfoot is a valuable perennial grass, its use on the Canterbury mixed farm is limited, because of the inability of the species to persist under hard sheep grazing, according to a North Canterbury authority. Perennial ryegrass, which forms the basis of most of our pastures, establishes quickly and thrives under hard grazing, whereas cocksfoot requires at least a year to establish, and will not survive constant hard grazing. Cocksfoot also makes slow spring growth, while ryegrass produces a substantial growth in the early spring, and therefore tends to smother cocksfoot. So when these two species are included in a pasture mixture which will be subjected to ordinary sheep grazing, the ryegrass will flourish to the detriment of the cocksfoot.

In spite of this, however, there is an important place for cocksfoot on the mixed farms of Canterbury, and its increased use on the lighter land, in particular, would be advantageous. On this type of land, such species as subterranean clover produce well in the spring when moisture conditions are suitable, but later, as the soil becomes drier, very little grazing is provided. It is in this dry summer period that cocksfoot shows up to advantage. Its deep root system allows it to withstand dry summer conditions better than most other pasture plants. Successful Experiment The authority quoted recently visited a light land property where cocksfoot had been sown in association with lucerne and subterranean clover. The farmer concerned explained that the mixture had been sown in the autumn after a summer fallow four years before. and he considered that, even if the paddock were now ready for the plough, it had already paid a useful dividend. However, it would seem from present appearances that the sward will be good for a number of years, and, even if the lucerne plants thin out. a useful paddock of subterranean clover and cocksfoot will remain. To encourage root development of the plants, the area was saved for an early hav cron in its first year. Sinse then it has been “nursed” for summer grazing during dry periods. This “nursing.” or spelling, from grazing is the secret of success with these special paddocks.

While cocksfoot will not persist satisfactorily under uncontrolled *sheep grazing, provided proper care is exercised in grazing management a good cocksfoot sward may be maintained. All light land farmers know how ranidly the ordinary type of pasture dries off and stops producing when a

dry spell sets in, and, to have a pasture such as the one just described to fall back on at such times can mean much. A further asset of this type of pasture lies in the fact that both cocksfoot and lucerne are resistant to grass grub attack, an important factor on light land.

On the same property a paddock was sown with perennial ryegrass, cocksfoot, subterranean clover, and white clover. In the first season a light crop of ryegrass was direct-headed from this area and no grazing was carried out till the following August. This system of management not only gave the cocksfoot time to establish, but also permitted the subterranean clover to reseed, unhindered by grazing. Early grazing fof ewes and lambs was obtained last spring, and the farmer 'intends to spell the paddock again this autumn.

As to whether pastures which require such special treatment are worthy of consideration by the average farmer, the farmer concerned believes that they are. To state that he has doubled his carrying capacity in the last .five years, and that he considers much of his success has resulted from the provision of out-of-season grazing, is to state a strong argument.