Which ryegrass is best for your farm?
May 13, 2025 Australia
Choosing the right ryegrass variety for your farm isn’t a one-size-fits-all decision. The best ryegrass for you depends on your grazing system, climate, persistence needs, and feed quality goals. Whether you’re looking for a fast-growing option for a short-term boost or a long-term pasture solution, understanding key factors like persistency, ploidy, heading date, and endophyte type will help you make the best choice.
Key factors to consider
- Persistence
How long do you need your ryegrass to last?
From short-term annual ryegrass like Loader or Kiama to perennial ryegrass varieties such as Coorong CM142, persistence should match your farm’s pasture rotation plan. - Ploidy
Will you benefit more from a diploid or tetraploid ryegrass?
Diploids, like Almonta CM142, are hardier with a dense growth habit, while tetraploids, such as Mazzoletti and Middini CM142, are more palatable and higher in sugar content for improved livestock intake. - Endophyte protection
Do you need added insect resistance for better persistence?
The right endophyte selection, such as CM142, can reduce pest damage and enhance ryegrass lifespan. - Heading date
Do you need early, mid, or late heading ryegrass?
Heading date impacts feed quality, with later-heading varieties maintaining higher-quality pasture for longer.
Understanding ryegrass types
Annual and Italian ryegrass (1-2 years persistence)
Best for high-yielding winter and early spring feed, these ryegrass types are ideal for short-term pasture rotations. They establish quickly and deliver feed faster than perennial options but don’t persist beyond one or two years.
- Annual ryegrass:
Fastest-establishing option, lasting less than 12 months. Varieties such as Loader and Kiama are well-suited for winter/spring forage. - Italian ryegrass:
Offers 1-2 years of productivity, with some newer varieties, like Mazzoletti and Bermagui, extending into a third year under irrigation or mild summers.
Best suited for: Boosting winter and spring feed, silage, hay production, short-term grazing systems, and as an option for a pasture based blend mixed with legumes or brassica.
Hybrid (Short Rotation) Ryegrass (2-5 years persistence)
A cross between perennial and Italian ryegrass, hybrids combine strong early growth with moderate persistence. They’re an excellent option for temporary pastures or improving existing pastures through direct drilling.
- More winter production than perennial ryegrass
- Some endophyte options for pest resistance
- Used for 2-5 year grazing rotations
Greenmount CM142 is an example of a high-performing hybrid ryegrass, delivering strong establishment and persistence while maintaining excellent palatability and animal performance.
Best suited for: Short- to medium-term pastures, improving thin pastures via oversowing, preparing paddocks for future cropping, to enhance animal performance in cooler regions, and as an addition to perennial pasture seed mixtures to increase winter production during initial years.
Perennial Ryegrass (5+ years persistence)
The most widely used ryegrass for long-term grazing and hay/silage production. Perennial ryegrass thrives in diverse conditions, providing strong persistence, excellent animal performance, and compatibility with legumes and forage herbs.
- Long-term pasture option for well-managed systems
- Performs well under grazing and cutting
- Endophyte options available for pest protection
- Best for rotational grazing and dairy, beef, or sheep systems
Popular perennial ryegrass varieties include Coorong CM142 and Almonta CM142, which are known for their high tiller density, palatability and resilience, while Middini CM142 offers excellent winter and spring growth with improved grazing tolerance. These products all contain CM142 novel endophyte for enhanced pest and disease resistance and improved persistence.
Best suited for: Permanent pasture systems needing multi-year performance and strong resilience.
Choosing between diploid and tetraploid ryegrass
Ryegrass cultivars are available in two forms: diploid and tetraploid. A diploid cultivar contains two sets of chromosomes per cell, totalling 14 chromosomes. A tetraploid cultivar has four sets of chromosomes (28 total), created by treating seeds in a solution before breeding begins.
Diploids –
More hardy and persistent, with a denser growth habit. Suitable for high stocking rates and areas where grazing pressure or pugging is a concern. Varieties such as Almonta CM142 and Middini CM142 offer excellent ground cover and persistence.
Tetraploids –
More palatable and higher in sugar content, leading to improved livestock intake, with some trials showing ~10% gains in animal performance. Require careful grazing management as they are less dense than diploids. Coorong CM142 and Mazzoletti are excellent tetraploid choices for high-performance grazing systems.
| Annual ryegrass | Tetraploids are commonly chosen for their production advantages, as persistence is less relevant. |
| Italian ryegrass: | Use tetraploids for short-term pastures.
Choose diploids for multi-year pastures. |
| Hybrid & perennial ryegrass: | For maximum performance in optimal environments, tetraploids are preferred. |
In challenging conditions, where pastures are likely to be stressed from dry summers and/or wet winters, diploids offer greater reliability and persistence.
Tip: Many farms use a mix of diploid and tetraploid ryegrasses to balance pasture density with animal performance.
The role of endophytes in ryegrass selection
- An endophyte is a naturally occurring fungus in ryegrass that protects against insect pests but can impact animal health if not selected carefully.
- Novel endophytes (e.g. CM142, used in Coorong CM142, Middini CM142, Almonta CM142, and Greenmount CM142) provide insect protection while maintaining animal safety
- Standard endophytes offer strong insect tolerance but can cause ryegrass staggers
- Low-endophyte options have no risk to livestock but are less persistent in pest-prone regions
- For farms in high insect-pressure areas, choosing the right endophyte-enhanced ryegrass can improve pasture longevity and resilience
Why heading date matters
Heading date refers to when a ryegrass variety produces seed heads. Later-heading varieties maintain higher-quality pasture for longer, making them ideal for farmers needing extended feed quality into late spring and early summer.
- Early-heading ryegrasses –
Best for regions with short growing seasons or low summer rainfall. Middini CM142 is a great example, offering strong winter growth with early heading. - Late-heading ryegrasses –
Maintain higher feed quality later into spring, ideal for irrigated systems or summer rainfall zones. Coorong CM142 and Almonta CM142 are excellent late-heading choices.
Tip: Avoid mixing early and late heading cultivars in the same paddock, as this creates inconsistent pasture quality and complicates grazing management.
Finding the right ryegrass for your farm
The best ryegrass depends on your farm’s specific needs.
- Need quick feed?
Choose annual or Italian ryegrass like Kiama or Mazzoletti. - Looking for a temporary pasture solution?
Hybrid ryegrass like Greenmount CM142 offers a balance of growth and persistence. - Want long-term grazing productivity?
Perennial ryegrass options like Coorong CM142 and Almonta CM142 are reliable choices.
Still unsure? Our team is here to help.
Find the best ryegrass for your farm—explore our forage seed range, or talk to our team about the best options for your conditions.