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FOCUS
Seed
Special
Product information
The ϐlexible forage herb
–
tonic plantain
T
onic plantain (
Plantago lanceolata
) is a mineral-rich perennial
grazing herb. It is a valuable pasture for the supply of miner-
als and dry matter production, particularly in drier regions
and less fertile conditions.
New Zealand dairy and small stock producers are making tremen-
dous strides with the incorporation of plantain into their forage sys-
tems. In one decade, this relative newcomer to the pasture world
has become the second largest pasture crop – after ryegrass – in
New Zealand.
Agricol’s technical team believes the good drought tolerance and
quality characteristics of this species offers great advantages to
local milk, meat and fibre producers. The drought tolerance of this
crop could make it a valuable species under dryland farming condi-
tions in the coastal areas of South Africa. The fact that plantain toler-
ates acid soils and low P values, is also appealing.
Performance of tonic plantain
Recent DairyNZ research indicated that when the quality of ryegrass
was moderate (10,5 MJ ME/kg DM), milk solid yields were similar
from cows fed 100% perennial ryegrass pasture or perennial rye-
grass pasture supplemented with herbs. However, when ryegrass
quality dropped to 9,6 MJ ME/kg DM, cows fed first year tonic
plantain as 20% - 40% of their diet, ate about 1 kg DM more and
produced 17% more milk solids (
Lee and Minnee, 2012
).
There seems to be several reasons for the improved milk production;
tonic has good protein levels, contains condensed tannins which
may improve protein supply to dairy cows, as well as high energy
(average 11 - 12 MJ ME/kg DM). This quality does not deteriorate
to the extent in which ryegrass does over summer, therefore in late
summer and autumn, quality differences between the two species
can be large.
Other benefits
Tonic plantain, like chicory and legumes, is processed faster in the
rumen than ryegrass; this has the potential to increase daily intakes.
Cow appetite can be reduced in summer due to high temperatures;
grazing tonic may overcome this problem due to tonic having a low
dry matter percentage, being upright and easily grazed by the cow,
especially compared to ryegrass at this time.
The high protein levels and digestibility of tonic in summer and au-
tumn is ideal to balance with high fibre and low protein forages (e.g.
maize silage, ryegrass pastures and kikuyu). Daily growth rates are
around 80 kg - 100 kg DM/ha/day in summer and autumn, but can be
as high as 120 kg DM/ha/day over January/February.
Second year crops can be equally as productive as first year crops
due to plant numbers persisting and remaining relatively constant.
Some of the standout points from current tonic plantain research:
Reduce impacts of summer/autumn deficits in pasture quantity
and quality.
The speed of recovery after hot and dry conditions.
Improves milk production when pasture quality drops.
A high level of stock health.
Useful crop to reduce grass weeds.
Exceptional summer/autumn and winter growth.
High forage quality (protein and digestibility).
Good drought tolerance (>450 mm rainfall per annum).
High trace element content (Zn, Cu and Se).
RUAN STANDER,
agriculturalist, Agricol
TABLE 1: NUTRITIVE VALUE OF PLANTAIN CUT OR GRAZED BY COWS AT A 20 CM - 25 CM HEIGHT.
TABLE 2: ESTABLISHMENT (KG/HA).
TABLE 3: ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF USING DIFFERENT TONIC OPTIONS.
ENERGY
(MJ/KG DM)
PROTEIN
(% DM)
FIBRE
(% DM)
SUGARS + STARCH
(% DM)
MINERALS
(% DM)
% REPRODUCTIVE STEM OR
SEEDHEAD IN THE SWARD
Tonic Plantain
11 - 12
16 - 28
25 - 33
9 - 20
11 - 16
0 - 20
PLOIDY
DIPLOID
Sowing rate (kg/ha)
2 - 3 in a perennial pasture mix
4 - 5 with chicory and clover as a specialist crop
2 - 3 in a lucerne stand
3 - 4 into existing kikuyu
8 - 10 as a pure stand
Annual production (tons/DM/ha)
12 - 20
ADVANTAGES
DISADVANTAGES
Pure species
Dedicated weed control and grazing management.
Maximum benefit from herbs.
Slightly slower winter growth rates than ryegrass. Requires
nitrogen fertiliser.
Tonic plantain
with clover
Same as above with increased nitrogen. Clover fills
sward gaps.
Slightly slower winter growth rates than ryegrass. Potential
bloat risk if clover dominates. Reduced weed control options.
Herb in diverse
pasture mix
Increased pasture production and nutritive value in
summer/autumn. Longer growing season.
Grazing management cannot be optimised for all species.
Quality of herbs diluted. Limited weed control options.
Maart 2015
28
Source: Lee and Minee, 2012
Source: Adapted from Lee
et al
., 2012