Milk production from kikuyu grass based pastures

Summary

Kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) is a tropical grass introduced into Australia in the 1920’s from stolons brought from the Belgian Congo.

In 1969, “Whittet” a seeded kikuyu cultivar from Kenya was released.

Kikuyu has since naturalised along most of the east coast of Australia and is now the dominant summer pasture on coastal dairy farms.

Kikuyu is capable of high summer growth but milk production can be limited by its relatively low quality.

This Primefact covers the following topics:

• Kikuyu for milk production
• Kikuyu for dry cows
• Grazing management
• Supplements for kikuyu grass
• Water use efficiency of kikuyu
• Fertiliser management
• Oversowing kikuyu in autumn for winter feed
• Making kikuyu silage
• Disorders of kikuyu
• Insect pests of kikuyu grass
• Establishment of kikuyu grass