Tall fescue

Introduction

• Deep-rooted perennial grass with large tillers and hairless but coarse large dark-green leaves.
• Seed is a large, spreading panicle with small spikelet.

Production and management

• Slow to establish owing to poor mobilization of seed reserves and slow seedling growth.
• Careful establishment during periods of adequate soil moisture and warm soil temperature ( >10⁰C) is recommended.
• Seed sowing needs to be as early as autumn rains allow.
• Best sown as the sole grass species with white clover and red clovers.
• Has poor tillering capacity when kept below 30-40 mm by regular grazing, such as occurs under set stocking.
• Tolerant to rearing damage.
• Sowing rate in mixture is 16-20 kg/ha.

Environment

• Requires high fertility to produce well and are usually invaded by other grasses if the fertility is medium to low.
• Can withstand more extreme environmental conditions.
• Recovers quickly after drought.

Animal health

• Have no specific animal health problems.
• Can contain an endophyte that produces ergovaline, a compound causing heat stress and complaints such as fescue foot.