Plantain and chicory could potentially complement the perennial ryegrass dominant dairy feedbase

A modelling study was undertaken to identify if pasture mixtures or monocultures containing plantain or chicory are likely to convey a dry matter (DM) production advantage over perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) at the dairy locations of Terang and Ellinbank in Victoria, and Smithton, Elliott, Cressy and Scottsdale in Tasmania. The growth of monocultures of perennial ryegrass (PRG), plantain (Plantago lanceolata; PLA), and chicory (Cichorium intybus; CHIC), along with mixtures of perennial ryegrass, white clover (Trifolium repens) and plantain (RC-PLA), and mixtures of perennial ryegrass, white clover and chicory (RC-CHIC) were simulated at the six locations for a 40 year period using the biophysical model DairyMod. The average annual yield of PLA ranged between 12.1 and 25.1 tDM/ha and was comparable to or greater than PRG (11.2 to 20.7 tDM/ha) for all locations. For the Victorian locations of Terang and Ellinbank, the average annual yield of CHIC (11.4 and 15.5 tDM/ha respectively) was comparable to PRG (14.5 and 14.4 tDM/ha respectively). At the Tasmanian locations the average annual yield of the CHIC ranged from 5.2 to 16.8 tDM/ha and was lower than PRG (11.2 to 20.7 tDM/ha). The RC-PLA average annual yield ranged from 12.6 to 24.9 tDM/ha and the RC-CHIC average annual yield ranged from 10.1 to 20.4 tDM/ha for all locations. These yields were greater than the average annual yields of PRG. However, for the Tasmanian locations the RC-CHIC had a greater variance in yield (CV’s between 8.3 and 27.1%) than the PRG (CV’s between 3.1 and 17.2%). The RC-CHIC had greater summer production but lower winter production than the PRG at all locations. At the Tasmanian locations the RC-PLA had greater autumn and winter production than the PRG. It is concluded that the species that best complements the dairy feedbase is chicory or plantain for the Victorian locations and plantain for the Tasmanian locations.