Aurus
Cocksfoot
- High yielding variety with improved winter activity over Tekapo
- Upright growth habit allowing good clover content
- Strong persistence
- Excellent drought tolerance
- Suitable for set stocking and hard rotational grazing by sheep
- Excellent Drechslera tolerance observed in New Zealand trials
Aurus is an upright cocksfoot providing strong summer production and persistence well suited to challenging dryland environments. Aurus’ upright growth habit enhances its compatibility with high performing clover varieties, ideal for maximising nitrogen fixation. Plant breeders have selected Aurus for superior yield, strong disease tolerance and a later heading date (+6 days later than Tekapo).
An establishing paddock of Aurus cocksfoot in Horowhenua.
Example pasture mixes
Dryland Cocksfoot Dominant Mix
Aurus cocksfoot 10 kg/ha
Hilltop white clover 4 kg/ha
Bindoon sub clover 6 kg/ha
High Fertility Cocksfoot Dominant Mix
Aurus cocksfoot 10 kg/ha
Quartz white clover 2 kg/ha
Hilltop white clover 2 kg/ha
For increased animal performance, nitrogen fixation and pasture management, add Amigain red clover to pasture mixes at 4-6 kg/ha.
Cocksfoot has long been recognised for its agronomic attributes in dryland farming situations. Relative to ryegrass, it has an ability to cope with summer dry conditions, and tolerate grazing by key pasture pests such as Grass Grub and Porina.
