Pasture

Characteristics:     A good legume to use as green manure for soil improvement. Can be planted in maize rows if wide row spacing is used for maize. You can also let it grow out as a standing crop for grazing during the winter. Under irrigation it can also be used for dairy cows.   […]

Characteristics:   A very quick grass which, grown tall, makes good silage and can be grazed between 400 and 600mm in height. Can produce 20 tons DM of silage per ha in 100 days in favourable conditions. Cut before it gets too stalky especially if you are going to wrap silage.   CROP/SPECIE  CULTIVARS *PBR […]

Characteristics:   This is a perennial dry land grass that will do well in wet vlei areas and soils which are not all that fertile. It is cold sensitive, does not like sandy soils or dry, hot climates. Ergot on seed can cause abortion in cattle if ingested. Clovers can be sown with paspalum.   […]

Characteristics:   Combines well with medics and subterranean clover mixtures, Although there is not much growth during the winter, spring production is good and something to witness. Production of 8 DM/ha is obtainable. Set stocking is advised. Weed control is important especially when established. Balansa clover seed is hard coated and this enables the plant […]

Characteristics:   Egyptian clover is an annual temperate clover, which needs establishing each year, It has an erect growth habit and is sensitive to frost, Used mainly for green manuring.   CROP/SPECIE  CULTIVARS *PBR # EXCL SEEDING KG/HA RAINFALL MM/YEAR SUITED REGIONS PLANTING MONTHS SOIL  Berseem Clover Elite II 5-17 600+ or irrigation W Cape, […]

Characteristics:   A perennial legume, drought tolerant, good for grazing and hay production. Does not cause bloat. It has a deep tap root with good side roots. Actively grows from spring until winter and is very palatable.   CROP/SPECIE  CULTIVARS SEEDING KG/HA RAINFALL MM/YEAR SUITED REGIONS PLANTING MONTHS SOIL  Birdsfoot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus San Gabriel […]

Characteristics:     Very good quality forage in terms of dry matter digestibility, metabolisable energy and crude protein, Tolerant to heavy grazing, High seed yield and hardseededness provide seed bank for many years.   CROP/SPECIE  CULTIVARS *PBR # EXCL SEEDING KG/HA RAINFALL MM/YEAR SUITED REGIONS PLANTING MONTHS SOIL Biserrula Mauro Casbah 2-5 kg 300+ W […]

Characteristics:     Biological weed control can be done during the vegetative growing period due to high alkaloid levels in the plant, It is an important rotational crop for soil improvement, The seed is high in protein and is often used to flush feed stock, Also used as a green manure crop.   CROP/SPECIE  CULTIVARS […]

Characteristics:   Drought tolerant grass used for grazing and hay production. For best quality graze grass at a height of 750mm. The carrying capacity is 1 cow and calf during the summer months and the DM production usually varies between 3 and 4 tons per ha.   CROP/SPECIE  CULTIVARS *PBR # EXCL SEEDING KG/HA RAINFALL […]

Characteristics:   A palatable grazing grass ensuring good intake, and makes good hay as well as forage. Very leafy. Carrying capacity of 1-2 MLU per ha, DM production 3m/tons pa.   CROP/SPECIE  CULTIVARS *PBR # EXCL SEEDING KG/HA RAINFALL MM/YEAR SUITED REGIONS PLANTING MONTHS SOIL  Bottle Brush Grass (Antephora pubescens) Common # Wollie * SSW […]

Characteristics:   Boyds clover is an annual clover which can re-establish itself, Good production is always found in wet areas alongside vlei areas and low lying fields where water logging is found, Set stocking is advised. Peak production is in spring and early summer.   CROP/SPECIE  CULTIVARS *PBR # EXCL SEEDING KG/HA RAINFALL MM/YEAR SUITED […]

Characteristics:   Deep tap rooted herb, High summer yield and quality, Choice is a perennial chicory with good persistence, Improved cool-season growth, high growth rates, and excellent insect and disease resistance, Choice chicory boosts milk production in dairy cows, by providing large amounts of protein and energy-rich feed from small areas of land, It can […]

Characteristics:   Cocksfood is a very persistent perennial grass. It grows relatively slow in the sowing year, but the second and subsequent years it is very vigorous. Cocksfoot growth in summertime is important. It is winter hardy and drought tolerant. It is also very suitable for hard rotational grazing by sheep. Cocksfoot perform best on […]

What is the purpose of cover crops?   Cover crop mixtures increases the root mass in different ground levels. Inceases soil microbe population, oxygen and carbon levels. Increases Bio-life (insects and earthworms), contribute to better water infiltration and overall healthier soil.   AGRI-LIFE Grazer Mixtures   Summer Mixtures: Agri-Life 11  –  Beginner Summer Mixture with […]

General Information: Cowpeas have an indefinite growth habit. Early plantings thus yield more vegetative growth and later plantings more reproductive growth (more pods), Planting depth – not deeper than 5cm, Plant in Nov/Dec for hay production and Dec/Jan for grain production, Cut hay as soon as 25% of the pods have discolored, Harvest grain as […]

Characteristics:     An annual clover used for grazing and hay production as well as green manuring. The seed can vary from 30 to 70% hard coated depending on the conditions during seed production.   CROP/SPECIE  CULTIVARS *PBR # EXCL SEEDING KG/HA RAINFALL MM/YEAR SUITED REGIONS PLANTING MONTHS SOIL Crimson Clover Capreira Blaza Blazer 5-15 […]

Characteristics:   A hardy perennial legume for grazing or hay production. Frost resistant. Gives satisfactory results on poor soils. It is drought tolerant and does not cause bloat.   CROP/SPECIE  CULTIVARS *PBR # EXCL SEEDING KG/HA RAINFALL MM/YEAR SUITED REGIONS PLANTING MONTHS SOIL  Crown Vetch Penngift 20-Dec | 12-20kg 300+ or irrigation Cooler high-lying areas Oct […]

Characteristics:   An annual aggressive summer legume grown for grazing, hay and silage production. Very good green manure and rotation crop for soil improvement.   CROP/SPECIE  CULTIVARS *PBR # EXCL SEEDING KG/HA RAINFALL MM/YEAR SUITED REGIONS PLANTING MONTHS SOIL  Dolichos Bean (Dolichos lab lab) Common Rongai – long grower Highworth – short season grower 15-20 […]

Characteristics:   It is an important rotational crop with cereals, Can be used as silage with other crops in mixtures.   CROP/SPECIE  CULTIVARS SEEDING KG/HA RAINFALL MM/YEAR SUITED REGIONS PLANTING MONTHS SOIL  Faba Bean Fanfare Vertigo Fiesta 140 300+ The whole of South Africa Apr-May Prefer heavy soils.

Characteristics:   Fodder beet allows farmers to produce 20 – 30 tonnes DM/ha of high quality feed for animals to consume during winter and spring, when feed availability is most critical. Fodder beet performs best in deep and friable soils that have a good ability to store nutrients and moisture. It is ideal to be […]

Characteristics:   Turnips in general take 12-14 weeks to mature. It can be sow in a mixture with ryegrass and chicory/clover. Sowing time is from September to late January. Sowing rate:  2-4kg/ha This is an inexpensive source of roughage, which has been the saving grace of many farmers with livestock in dry years. It is […]

Characteristics:   Forage peas are palatable and are grown for hay and silage, Although it can take low temperatures, heavy frost can reduce the formation of the pods, It has a great potential as a rotational crop in a cropping system.   CROP/SPECIE  CULTIVARS SEEDING KG/HA RAINFALL MM/YEAR SUITED REGIONS PLANTING MONTHS SOIL  Forage Peas […]

Characteristics:     Spitfire has excellent yield, It’s insect tolerant, and low stem dry matter percentage.        

View our latest Forage Sorghum pamphlet: ENGLISH   HUNNIGREEN: (Sweet sorghum × Sweet sorghum)   Photo periodic sensitive (PPS), Excellent silage yields, Excellent standing hay in the winter, and good grazing during summer, Highly palatable and has high sugar content, Good regrowth ability, Suitable for cattle and sheep. Seed count per kilogram:  30000 – 34000 […]

Characteristics:   Grazing vetch is a fine stemmed annual legume with a creeping/runner growth habit, Produces very good hay and does not cause bloat, Combines well with cereal crops to make good quality hay and silage.   CROP/SPECIE  CULTIVARS *PBR # EXCL SEEDING KG/HA RAINFALL MM/YEAR SUITED REGIONS PLANTING MONTHS SOIL  Grazing Vetch # Max […]

Diploid Italian ryegrass:   Asset: Late heading date, Exceptional production in the winter spring and summer, Asset is the perfect choice if a persistent Italian ryegrass is required, Asset has excellent summer quality for its type, coupled with very high annual production, Asset is also the first Italian ryegrass with AR7 endophyte, this improves the […]

Jap Millet is a fast growing summer grass that can be planted and grown during cooler temperatures than common Pearl millet or forage sorghums, it also doesn’t become as stalky as Pearl millet.  

Characteristics:   It is planted because of the thickened roots . The cultivar Nooitgedacht has a long growing season that will not flower and form early seed. Radish is normally a winter and autumn planting fodder . Japanese radish is resistant to cold and are not affected by frost, it grows best in cool parts […]

Characteristics:     Sovereign kale is a medium-tall, late-flowering kale. It’s a better option for mid winter/early spring feed. 12-14tDM/ha is possible.        

Characteristics:   A warm season legume for grazing and hay production. No problem with bloat. Will do on low- lying heavy soils, which are inclined to get waterlogged now and again. Cut for hay at 30- 45cm in height. Can get three cuttings per season yielding 2-4 tons per ha. Graze at 20cm height. Sometimes […]

Click here to view the 2016 Agricol Lucerne pamphlet (in Afrikaans only). Click here to view the Lucerne booklet (Afrikaans and English)   Lucerne is a Perennial Summer Legume which is well adjusted to perform in almost all areas of South Africa.  It is widely adopted but prefers deep, well drained soils with neutral to […]

Characteristics:   Medics are well adapted to grazing, Set stocking is normally advised, As a result of the high protein content of the plant material and the dry pods which are eaten during the summer months good animal performance is obtained, Medics is also an outstanding rotational crop with cereals and the advantages are the […]

Add Value with white sweet clover (Melilotus Alba)!   Why Melilotus Alba?   It is a highly palatable summer legume that livestock simply cannot resist, Although an annual crop, it has the ability to resow itself for the next season, With ample and well-spread rainfall, the crop can be grown almost anywhere, Well adapted to […]

  Habitat: Areas with a yearly rainfall of 500mm or more.   Components: Smutsfinger (Digitaria eriantha) Rhodes Grass (Chloris Gayana) Small Buffalo Grass (Panicum Coloratum)     Advantages of this mixture: The mixture can be grazed from the first season, All three components are tasty perennial grasses and possess good digestibility characteristics that can be […]

Characteristics:   Forage cereal usually give good green bite in early winter and spring. Very palatable. They react well to irrigation or supplementary irrigation. Use rotational grazing with a rest period for re-growth. Cereals are suited to grazing, hay production and silage. Marketing/end product use: Human consumption, Animal feed/forage, Grain, Hay/fodder & Cover crop.   […]

Diploid   Prospect: Late heading date, Dense fine-leaved cultivar with high production, suited to dairy sheep or beef systems, One of the best characteristics of prospect is it’s reliable all year around production, Performed particularly well under the drought and pest conditions of New Zealand North Island, Seeding Rate: 20-25kg/ha.   One50: Late heading date, […]

Characteristics:   A drought tolerant perennial forage sorghum. Can be grazed with cattle from a height of 550mm. Can cause prusicacid poisoning if wilted or frosted slightly, when grazed, caution should be taken if you are in doubt. Makes good quality foggage and can be used to make silage, add molasses or silage additives for […]

Characteristics:     A good legume for grazing as a mixture with annual ryegrass for dairy cows, It makes good hay and silage if grown on its own, It produces well in spring and increases the quality of the pasture mix offered to cattle.   CROP/SPECIE  CULTIVARS *PBR # EXCL SEEDING KG/HA RAINFALL MM/YEAR SUITED […]

Characteristics:   Phalaris is a deep – rooted perennial tufted grass. Very well adapted to winter rainfall areas where rainfall is 380mm and higher. Phalaris is good drought tolerant and can handle water logging well. This grass develops slowly and therefore compete not that good with weeds at an early stage. Therefore soil must be […]

Characteristics:   Serradella is a prostrate to semi-erect growing annual legume plant, It has a deep, well developed root system which can produce roots up to 1 metre in length, Pink Serradella is not hardseeded and can germinate earlier than expected, This makes it harder to re-establish itself naturally unless there is some summer rain […]

Characteristics:   Improved supply of some trace elements to animals (Cu, Zn, Se), Positive impact on animal performance, Extremely palatable to stock, Tonic can add value in terms of both dry matter and quality to any farming system, Tonic has a deep, coarse root system, which gives it a degree of drought tolerance and the […]

Characteristics:   Prairie grass (Bromus) has good drought tolerance. Prairie grass also have good winter production and heat tolerance. Prairie grass will not tolerate water logging. Sowing rate: 25-30kg/ha This is a biannual grass but produces large amounts of seed which fall to the ground and germinate. Thus giving a perennial effect. Does not like […]

Characteristics:   Purple vetch is a fine stemmed annual legume with an upright growth habit, Produces very good hay and does not cause bloat, Combines well with cereal crops to make good quality hay and silage, The plant is stronger and more hairy than the other vetches.   CROP/SPECIE  CULTIVARS *PBR # EXCL SEEDING KG/HA RAINFALL […]

Redgold/Kenland:   Upright growing Good persistence under grazing Strong early season growth and summer. High yield in the first 2 years. Combine well with white Clover.    

Characteristics:     Palatable, fast establishing perennial summer grass. Does not like heavy grazing and is usually grown as a hay crop or mixed with other grass species such as Smutsfinger. Used to control eelworm in tobacco and pineapple rotation and erosion control. Carrying capacity is 1-2 MLU/ha with a DM production of 7-15 tons […]

Characteristics:     Rose clover is an anuual clover, which can re-establish itself. Set stocking is recommended, with stock just being removed while the plant is flowering to facilitate better seed production.   CROP/SPECIE  CULTIVARS *PBR # EXCL SEEDING KG/HA RAINFALL MM/YEAR SUITED REGIONS PLANTING MONTHS SOIL  Rose Clover # Sola Hykon Drilled 5 Broadcast […]

Characteristics:   These cultivars are referred to as SPRING types in that they need increase in day length and rising temperature to get them to go to seed. Normally have straight up growth habit. Early plantings are ready for grazing within 50 days. Rotational graze for best results. The grain is of great value to […]

Click here to view the pamphlet (In Afrikaans)   Characteristics:   These cultivars are referred to as WINTER types as they need a long cold spell to get them to go to seed. You can therefore plant them much earlier in the year than the SPRING types. These cultivars also have a more prostrate growth […]

Characteristics:   Saltbush is an important strategic drought resistant crop. Grows vegetatively during the summer with most available dry matter being available in late summer and autumn. It has a problem with palatability and animals must be forced to eat it. Do not allow the plant to grow too tall. Graze or cut back regularly […]

Characteristics:   A perennial summer growing grass which is palatable as grazing and makes good hay and silage. It is also good as foggage early in the winter season. Mixes well with other summer subtropical grasses such as Rhodesgrass. DM production can be between 12-18 tons per ha. Cutting or grazing should not be lower […]

Characteristics:   Deep rooted, good drought tolerance. Good spring and summer production.      

Characteristics:   Subterranean clovers are well adapted to grazing. Set stocking is normally advised. As a result of the high protein content of the plant material and the dry pods which are eaten during the summer months, good animal performance is obtained. It is an outstanding rotational crop with cereal and the advantages are the […]

Why Mixtures? Easier seed handling, coated product, more efficient on windy days, All in one bag – Time benefit.   Available Mixtures:   Mooirivier Mixture: (Click here for the Mooirivier Mixture webpage!) Components:  Smutsfinger + Rhodesgrass + Kleinwitbuffel Client in need of high potential summer hay / foggage, It’s also suitable for a wide range […]

Characteristics:   An annual summer legume grown mainly for green manuring but can also be grazed. It is frost sensitive and drought tolerant. Can be sown up to the end of January for green manure. Grows 1-2 meters in height. Not all that palatable for stock.   CROP/SPECIE  CULTIVARS *PBR # EXCL SEEDING KG/HA RAINFALL […]

Characteristics:   The white lupin is an annual legume, which has a very erect growth habit with a thick woody main stem and a strong taproot. It is an important rotational crop with cereals. It has an excellent feeding value for stock. The pod is not like the bitter lupin and does not shatter easily. […]

Characteristics:   A very important rotational crop with cereals. The seed is also sweet and of high protein content, making it a very good fodder crop for stock. The pods do not shatter easily and is ideal for silage mixtures.   CROP/SPECIE  CULTIVARS *PBR # EXCL SEEDING KG/HA RAINFALL MM/YEAR SUITED REGIONS PLANTING MONTHS SOIL  […]

Characteristics:   It is an important rotational crop for soil improvement. The seed is high in protein and is often used to flush feed stock. Also used as a green manure crop. Less prone to shattering.   CROP/SPECIE  CULTIVARS *PBR # EXCL SEEDING KG/HA RAINFALL MM/YEAR SUITED REGIONS PLANTING MONTHS SOIL  Sweet Lupins (narrow leaf) […]

Characteristics:   Sweet vetch is a fine stemmed annual legume with an upright growth habit. Produces very good hay and does not cause bloat. Combines well with cereal crops to make good quality hay and silage.   CROP/SPECIE  CULTIVARS *PBR # EXCL SEEDING KG/HA RAINFALL MM/YEAR SUITED REGIONS PLANTING MONTHS SOIL  Sweet Vetch Blanchefleur Lanquedoc […]

Please view the fescue pamphlet below: Click here for Afrikaans Click here for English   Characteristics:   Tall Fescue is a deep rooted, robust perennial grass. It is excellent for grazing purposes especially in a mix with ryegrass, chicory and clover. It can tolerate water logging, salinity heat and drought good. Do not allow tall fescue […]

Teff is an annual grass used for grazing and hay. The first cuttings can be done 65-75 days after establishment. Tef should not grow too high as the height can influence its standing ability, cut teff prior to first flowering. Yields of 3-4t/ha are possible.

Characteristics:     Excellent cover crop, Nitrogen Mining & Nutrient Scavenging, GroundHog radish produces more root mass than oil seed radish or mustards, Promotes water infiltration.      

Characteristics:   Wintergreen feed which offers quality from May to Oct. It remains palatable until end Sep. Early plantings are ready for grazing within 40 days. Rotational graze for best results. The grain is of great value to ruminants and has a crude protein of 10-13%. Triticale can be used for grazing, hay, silage as […]

Characteristics:   Rival: Early maturing (14 weeks), summer turnip, Excellent leaf production and leaf holding Tankard shaped bulb with high proportion above ground Short term, one graze, summer crop., Rival is ideally used as part of a pasture renovation programme within dairy farms that have a period of dry or a loss of pasture quality […]

Characteristics:   A perennial summer growing grass, produces good quality hay. Cut before it gets too high and old. Good spring and early summer grazing DM production varies between 6 and 14 tons/ha. Easy to establish, does not foggage well. Carrying capacity is between 1.5 to 4 MLU during the summer and moisture conditions.   […]

Tetraploid Westerworld ryegrass   Striker: Early heading date, Fast to establish, Excellent to use in established pasture such as kikuyu.   Energa: Rapid Establishment and upright growth habit, High dry matter production and excellent winter growth, Strong South African trail performance, Autumn sow for high yields of quality autumn, winter and spring feed, Mach 1 […]

Characteristics:   An indigenous perennial grass capable of high DM production up to 12 tons per ha given the moisture in areas where frost does not occur. It stays green throughout the year. (Frost Free Areas) Responds well to moisture and can be used in mixtures. Do not graze below 100mm.   CROP/SPECIE  CULTIVARS SEEDING […]

Click here to view the Sweet White Flower Clover pamphlet (in Afrikaans)   Agrimatt: High stolon density Excellent persistence Excellent autumn yields Haifa: Small to medium-leaved white clover Persistent under hard grazing Mainstay: Large leaf size High production Improved establishment vigour    

Characteristics:   Serradella is a prostrate to semi-erect growing annual legume plant. It has a deep, well developed root system. Yellow Serradella has a hard-coated seed, making it possible to reestablish itself naturally. Can be mixed with Pink Serradella in initial year. It is very good as a grazing-hay and silage producing crop. Combines well […]