Jackpot Diploid Italian Ryegrass

Jackpot is a new diploid Italian ryegrass bred by DLF Seeds Australasian breeding program. It was bred to replace the long standing favourite Icon Ryegrass. The breeding and testing programme aimed to develop a new fine-leaved cultivar with improved production in all seasons, and the ability to produce for two or more years in favourable climates. Testing has confirmed that Jackpot has successfully out yielded Icon by an outstanding 26% and Knight by 9% Jackpots late heading date prolongs feed quality in spring giving a greater opportunity to increase overall total production. Excellent option for farmers looking for top end production, quality and manageability. Jackpot is set to make big inroads into the Australian Italian Ryegrass market setting new levels of farmer satisfaction.

• Late flowering +22 days which give excellent long season production
• Replacement for Icon Ryegrass in 2017
• Fine leaved cultivar with improved growth in all seasons.
• Increased yield advantage over Icon Ryegrass by 34% and 9% over Knight

Seed agronomy table

Heading date	+22 days
Maturity	Late
Lifespan	2 -3 years
Min Rainfall (mm)	700
Seeding Rate	Kg/Ha
Dryland	10-15
High Rainfall / Irrigation	20-25

Heading date: 0 days = Nui perennial ryegrass.-

Enterprises for this Seed

Sheep
Beef Cattle
Diary Cattle
Horse
Hay & Silage

Strengths

• Italian ryegrass (biennial type).
• Very strong cool season growth and nutritive value.

Limitations

• Longevity (2 years); may occasionally be greater in moist, pest-free situations and rotational grazing.

Plant Description

Plant:Italian ryegrass - biennial.
Stems: up to 70 cm.
Leaves: hairless; blades up to 400 x 12 mm; young leaves rolled in bud.
Seedhead: spike up to 30 cm long; spikelets edge-on to the rachis which is recessed opposite each spikelet; 10-20 florets/spikelet, laterally flattened up to 25 mm long. Straight, fine awn up to 10 mm.
Seeds: ~460,000/kg (diploid)

Pasture type and use

Short term pasture offering high winter yields and enhanced nutritive value.

Where it grows

Rainfall: > 700mm +.
Soils: Medium-heavy texture, high fertility (eg Olsen P, 0-10 cm, >12 mg/kg)
Temperature: Cold and frost tolerant, mild summer desirable

Establishment

Companion species:
Legumes:white clover, sub clover and Persian clover.
Other: Forage brassicas.
Sowing/planting rates as single species: 10-25 kg/ha.
Sowing/planting rates in mixtures: 5-15 kg/ha.
Sowing time: Autumn & spring in favourable environments.
Fertiliser: P & possibly N at sowing

Management

Maintenance fertiliser: 10 kg P/ha. Monitor S, K, Cu especially. Supply N by clover/fertiliser.
razing/cutting:Graze at 2 1/2 - 3 leaf stage to optimise yield under rotational grazing. Cut at early flowering for peak nutritive value.
Ability to spread: <./strong>Will spread from seed in cool good rainfall environments: seed set will occur if ungrazed/not cut and this will be associated with a substantial trade-off in nutritive value.
Weed potential: Low unless allowed to set seed.
Major pests: Red and black-headed cockchafer, black field cricket, white-fringed weevil, African black beetle.
Major diseases: Crown rust - especially in humid regions; stem rust.
Herbicide susceptibility : Glyphosate

Animal production

Feeding value: High.
Palatability: Palatable.
Production potential: High.
Livestock disorders/toxicity: Some long rotation cultivars can carry wild type endophyte and cause perennial ryegrass toxicoses