Northern beef producers wanting to extend their pasture production season and stop native pasture rundown now have a high-quality sown legume option in Progardes Desmanthus.
Progardes is a perennial tropical legume blend of Desmanthus cultivars displaying superior genetics. It is a high-protein, palatable grazing legume that delivers excellent liveweight gains and arrests the decline in animal condition that occurs towards the end of the dry season. Because of its extensive taproot, it can access soil moisture deep down, allowing it to stay green and productive once grass pastures start haying off. Once established it persists indefinitely, requiring no rumen inoculum or ongoing maintenance.
In trials in central Queensland, steers grazing on a Progardes-buffel mix achieved liveweight gains of 36kg/head over 135 days, compared with steers on a buffel-only pasture.
Progardes is well adapted to the heavy clay soils of the Brigalow region, cleared Blackwood, and Gidgee and Downs country in the northwest. It is compatible with native pastures such as Mitchell, Flinders and blue grasses, as well as introduced species such as buffel.
Agrimix Pastures has a far-reaching network of customer support. From the Gulf down to northern NSW and across to the Northern Territory, the dedicated team is in regular contact with producers. And in line with the company’s commitment to rural producers and communities, from Beef Week until the end of June Agrimix Pastures will donate $10 from every bag of seed sold to the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
