Tonic plantain seed (NI)
Tonic plantain is an ideal forage herb in mixed species swards with Aber High Sugar Grasses and Germinal white and red clovers to boost growth and liveweight gain.
It is a protein and mineral-rich forage well suited to intensive or rotational grazing systems for dairy and beef cattle, sheep and finishing lambs. Its high protein and mineral content make it a nutritious addition to a mixed sward alongside Aber High Sugar Grasses and clovers.
Tonic plantain offers good spring and autumn growth, allowing a longer productive season, and shows rapid regrowth post-grazing. With similar total annual yields to Puna II perennial chicory, it has slightly better spring and autumn growth.
Key benefits of Tonic plantain seed
- More milk or meat production
- Increased daily liveweight gain
- Heavier weights at weaning
- High dry matter (DM) production from early spring to late autumn
- Reduces the effects of internal parasites
- High in minerals, especially copper and selenium
- High digestibility to drive intakes and growth
Ask an expert
You can contact our forage seed experts if you have any questions about our Tonic plantain.
Sowing rate: 1 kg/acre with 12 kg grass and clover (2.5 + 35 kg/ha)
Sowing time: April to mid-August, into warm soils (>10°C)
Sowing depth: 10 mm
Sowing instructions: Sow in well-drained soils. Control broad-leaved weeds before sowing. Cultivate to achieve a fine, firm seedbed. Ploughing will help level rough fields. Sow in good conditions (warm with rain forecast), no deeper than 10-15 mm. Roll well after sowing to ensure good soil/ seed contact. N, P and K fertiliser requirements are similar to that of grass. Ensure optimum soil pH, P and K indices.
After sowing
- Graze when the crop reaches a height of 10-15 cm and when plants are resistant to uprooting. Generally ready for grazing 8 weeks after sowing
- Rotationally graze for best results
- Ensure short, intensive periods of grazing with adequate recovery periods
- Ideally graze to a residual of 4cm
- In the second and subsequent years, plant height must not exceed 25 cm to limit seed head development and maintain feed quality
- Ensure adequate N, P and K fertiliser is available to the plant