WHAT’S THE ADVANTAGE OVER OTHER ARROWLEAF CLOVERS?

Arrotas was developed for Tasmanian producers to take advantage of Tasmania’s long growing season.

Arrotas (at lat. 42’) flowers 29 days later than the next variety Zulu, 31 days later than Seelu and Zulu 11 and 43 days later than Cefalu.

With adequate moisture Arrotas will provide an extra four weeks of high quality feed compared to any other variety of Arrowleaf clover available in Australia

Assuming growth rates of Arrotas are a conservative 70kg DM per day (Growth rates of 135 kgDM/day have been recorded for Arrotas ) over this four week period Arrotas will provide an extra 2t/ha in dry matter (DM) compared to other Arrowleaf clovers. Valuing pasture at $60 per tonne this equals an extra return of $120 per hectare simply by choosing the later maturing variety Arrotas.

ARROTAS - EXTENDING THE GROWING SEASON

A Victorian research group studied lamb growth rates in the late spring/summer 2004/2005  (Holmes et al. 2005)

LAMB GROWTH RATES: NOVEMBER TO JANUARY
(Data courtesy DPI Vic)

Arrotas monocultures - 254g/day compared to;

• Subterranean monocultures - 184g/day
• Subterranean/perennial ryegrass mixes - 186g/day

Lambs grazing Arrotas continued to grow at more than 100g/day from January to mid February.

WHEN FINISHING LAMBS

• By choosing Arrotas in preference to an earlier flowering Arrowleaf clover you gain benefits from an extra 29 days pasture growth rate resulting in the added bonus of an extra 3kg/head in the finishing weight of your lambs.
• Arrotas provides a benefit of an extra 10kg/head in the finishing weight of lambs over a Perennial ryegrass sub clover pasture mix.

REFERENCE

Holmes J., Kennedy A., Thompson A. (2005) Arrowleaf clover growing lambs in late spring/summer in southwest Victoria. In 'Proceedings 46th Annual Conference of the Grassland Society of Southern Australia'. Ballarat.

ARROTAS CLOVER IS

• Annual
• Upright in its growth habit
• A low bloat risk
• Suited to a range of soil types providing they are well drained and a pH 5.0 to 7.0
• Intolerant of waterclogging
• Suitable for hay or silage
• Arrotas Clover's ability to access moisture into summer in enhanced by a deep taproot. Sub clover has shallow roots. Winter production is poor compared to Sub, Persian and Balansa clovers but late maturing Arrotas is significantly more productive than these in late spring and early summer. Arrotas is adapted to cool Mediterranean/warm temperature climates that have dry summers.