Haymaker
Teff
A specialist summer-active C4 annual grass suited to hay or silage production for farmers in northern NZ.
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Get startedHaymaker, a warm-season C4 annual grass, excels with a short maturity timeframe ensuring multiple high-quality cuts for hay and silage. Resistant to damaging insect pests it guarantees a robust yield. Elevated protein levels relative to other C4 grasses such as sorghum enhance livestock performance, high water use efficiency enhances environmental sustainability. With lower risk of prussic acid compounds, quick establishment and suitability for late-season sowing, Haymaker is an ideal annual to plant for hay or silage production. Not suited for grazing. A resilient and efficient warm-season grass for farmers in northern New Zealand
Where it fits
As a short-term hay or silage crop - not suited to grazing.
Agronomic Information
- Persistence: 5-7 months*
- Disease resistance: High
- Growth peak: Summer to early Autumn
- Protein content: Med-high
- Endophyte: Nil
*subject to climate, insect pest pressure and management
Available Endophytes
Fungal endophytes exist naturally in symbiosis with ryegrasses, helping to protect plants from insect attack and improving pasture persistence. In New Zealand many ryegrass cultivars contain endophyte, passed down within the seed. These include the naturally occurring Standard Endophyte (SE) and novel endophytes AR1, NEA2 and CM142, each providing a different level of plant protection.
While endophytes help to protect against insects, some endophytes can impact livestock performance, including causing grass staggers and heat stress. Therefore, it is important to consider animal health when selecting an endophyte that is best suited to your farms environment and the livestock class being grazed.
Nil
Nil endophyte may not be suitable for all regions in New Zealand.
Animal safety
Recommend for:
- Dairy
- Beef
- Sheep
- Deer
- Goats
Ryegrass staggers
Does not cause ryegrass staggers or heat stress.
Insect pest control
Provides no insect pest control.
Downloads
Haymaker technical documents
Sowing Information
- Sowing rate: 6-8kg/Ha
- Soil temp: Minimum 18°C +
- Region suitability: Warmer, frost-free northern parts of the North Island
- Sowing season: Spring
Our sowing guides are a great way to compare a broad range of forage grasses.
Sowing guides