Timothy

Timothy
(High-resolution
image available)

NOTE: The information in this Agnote must be read in conjunction with Introduction to selecting and using pastures in NSW, which covers information on areas of adaptation, sources of variability, species mixtures, and important issues related to animal health and the conservation of native vegetation.

Pasture type and use	Perennial grass. Main growth in spring, summer and autumn. Grown under irrigation or high-rainfall conditions, primarily for grazing of sheep and cattle. Can also be used for hay or silage.
Area of adaptation	Has not been fully assessed. Expected to be successful only in the higher-rainfall areas of the Northern and Central Tablelands and in irrigation areas, with limited use in the Hunter, Northern and Central Coast areas. In trials conducted on acid soils on the Northern Tablelands between 1958 and 1961, Timothy produced less than did tall fescue, cocksfoot and perennial ryegrass, but more than phalaris and Italian ryegrass.
Min. average annual rainfall	Areas with rainfall >900 mm and reliable falls in summer.
Advantages	Produces high-quality feed; comparable digestibility to other high-quality temperate grasses. Maximum growth in summer/autumn. Tolerates waterlogging for short to medium periods. Most persistent in heavy damp soils. Offers high-quality feed (no endophyte effects). Highly palatable to livestock.
Disadvantages	Shallow root system, which contributes to its poor tolerance of drought and root-feeding insects. Poor seedling vigour, therefore prone to weed competition in establishment phase. Produces little feed in winter or early spring. Not tolerant of moderate to high soil aluminium levels, but more tolerant than phalaris. Limited grazing management options, as it is intolerant of heavy, frequent grazing.
Soil requirements	Best suited to heavy, damp, fertile soils.
Varieties	Ceres Viking - fine leaf, early flowering. Grasslands Charlton - fine leaf, late flowering.
Sowing rates:
- as only species	5-8 kg/ha
- in mixtures	1-2 kg/ha
Sowing time	Early autumn (February to April) or spring (mid-August/September) in favourable-rainfall areas.
Companion species	Has an open sward structure, so combines well with legumes (white, red and subterranean clovers, lucerne, lotus) and grazing herbs (chicory, plantain). Does not combine well with temperate grasses such as ryegrass, fescue and cocksfoot.
Inoculation	N/A
Major nutrient deficiencies	Nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur.
Main insect pests	Unknown at this stage, but assume insects affecting other temperate grasses will also affect this species. Monitor for insects such as pasture scarabs, blue oat mites, redlegged earth mites, field crickets, slugs and snails.
Main diseases	Unknown, but may suffer from stem and stripe rusts and other minor leaf diseases.
Management	As a generalisation, requires lax rotational grazing, and at key maturity stages (stem elongation to heading and during tiller initiation), infrequent grazing. Lax rotational grazing (to residual height of 30-50 mm) generally gives best yields. Grazing management must be such as to allow the plant to ‘head’ in late spring/early summer (lax and infrequent grazing) in order to build up root reserves and also to allow the formation of new tillers in the late summer/autumn period.
Livestock disorders of particular note	No livestock disorders encountered.
Additional tips	If intending to produce hay, the addition of a nitrogenous fertiliser may be considered in order to increase yield, where it is economic to do so.

Acknowledgments

Advice on livestock health disorders was provided by Dr Chris Bourke, Principal Research Scientist, NSW Agriculture, Orange. His contribution is gratefully acknowledged.

Photo: Pyne Gould Guinness Seeds