Performance of six timothy (Phleum pratense L.) lines in pure swards under grazing

Abstract The long-term persistence of timothy grass (Phleum pratense L.) in grazed pastures is generally regarded as inadequate. A selection of cultivars were compared in a small plot trial which was managed at contrasting grazing frequencies for 2 years and in which yield, height, and tiller numbers were measured. The whole trial was grazed regularly during the next 5 years and persistence determined as the proportion of timothy in the herbage harvested 6 and 7 years after sowing. The pasture type was more prostate and tillered than ‘Grasslands Kahu’. However, Kahu and the selection within Kahu were the highest yielding and Kahu was the most persistant. The low persistence of the prostrate type is discussed and partly attributed to its poor adaptation to New Zealand conditions.