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Managing a 300 to 350 dairy cow operation in NSW, farmer Mike Jeffrey has spent more than 15 years refining a pasture system built on consistency, resilience and high quality feed. His farm is centred on a kikuyu base that is oversown each year with ryegrass and supported by seasonal cropping, creating a diverse feed supply that meets the herd’s nutritional needs throughout the year.
During this time, chicory, especially perennial varieties like Choice, have become an important part of the system, helping improve both the productivity and reliability of his pastures.
For Mike, perennial chicory is indispensable because of the lift it provides to overall feed quality.
"We have a kikuyu/ryegrass system and have been using chicory in the mix for well over 15 years. The ryegrass is important too, but the feed quality we get from the chicory year round is incredible." Explains Mike.
While ryegrass delivers reliable cool season growth, the Choice perennial chicory introduces strong warm season performance and supports high utilisation through its upright structure and palatable leaf. It integrates well into rotational grazing systems and the steady regrowth helps maintain pasture persistence over multiple seasons.
"Choice is really good fit for me because it is a perennial that is upright, and it handles dry conditions well. We just top up a little bit each year which keeps the population where we need it to be. Overall feed quality and what it adds to the pasture sward is really valuable”.
Within Mike’s operation, the resilience of perennial chicory was most evident during the 2019 drought, when he observed that other pasture species stopped growing while chicory continued to persist.
“In drought years like 2019 there was just no pasture growth at all, apart from the Choice perennial chicory. It was well established, had that deep taproot, and just continued to grow. Not as well as it normally would, but it was the only thing growing and that was really important."
Chicories deep taproot allows it to access moisture unavailable to shallower rooted species, ensuring a continued supply of green feed when conditions were at their toughest.
“It’s responsiveness to rainfall, especially in spring and autumn, was a real winner. It helped ensure reliable feed availability during those critical transition periods,” Mike concludes.
Perennial chicory varieties such as DLF Seeds Choice and Puna II, contribute more than just drought resilience. Their upright growth habit and uniform leaf structure support efficient grazing and reduce wastage. These traits also assist the establishment of companion species like clovers and brassicas, further strengthening the performance of the whole sward.
Aaron Kemp, a Sales Agronomist at DLF Seeds, adds “a key period for chicory is in spring and summer, when ryegrass flowers and pasture quality drops. During this period, there may be bulk feed on offer, but the quality just isn’t there so milk production can drop. Compared to annual and bi annual types, this is where I see the value of the perennial chicory, they just keep producing leaf with minimal flowering!”
Choice and Puna II carry good protein levels, often between 22 and 27 percent, and when leafy they commonly test above 12.5 MJME per kilogram of dry matter.
For modern dairy operations like Mikes that seek a reliable, versatile forage species, perennial chicory remains a powerful and proven component of productive grazing systems as ultimately, they enhance overall feed value, contribute to pasture resilience and support year round animal performance.
Whether integrated into a mixed pasture sward for grazing or used for quality silage production, DLF Seeds perennial chicory continues to provide Mike Jeffrey and Australian farmers with a dependable forage option capable of meeting seasonal challenges head on.
For information on DLF Seeds perennial chicory, or to contact your local DLF Seeds Sales Agronomist, visit dlfseeds.com.au
