Why More Farmers Are Choosing a 3–5 Year Hybrid Pasture Option
Farming systems in New Zealand aren’t static — and pasture choices shouldn’t be either.
More farmers are moving away from a “lock-it-in-for-10+-years” mentality and choosing pasture options that deliver strong production now, while keeping future options open. Whether it’s cropping, regrassing, adjusting stocking policies, or responding to seasons and markets, flexibility has real economic value.
That’s exactly where Abound Hybrid Ryegrass fits.
What is a Hybrid Ryegrass?
A hybrid ryegrass is a bred cross from a perennial ryegrass (for persistence) and Italian ryegrass (for faster growth and a higher yield), combining the best traits of both.
The Middle Ground That Makes Sense
Abound is a hybrid long-rotation ryegrass pasture designed to last 3–5 years, bridging the gap between Annual/Italian and perennial systems.
It offers:
Higher annual dry matter production than a perennial
Greater longevity than an annual
Lower seed cost than a full perennial pasture
The flexibility to crop after 1, 2, or 3 years if required
It’s a pasture that works with modern farm systems — not against them.
Built for Mixed Swards: Ryegrass, Legumes & Herbs
Abound is well suited to being sown as part of a diverse, high-performance pasture mix.
It integrates exceptionally well with:
White clover (persistence, nitrogen fixation)
Red clover (summer production, quality feed)
Chicory (high-quality summer growth, animal performance)
Plantain (seasonal spread, summer growth, palatability, mineral uptake)
This allows farmers to build a pasture that:
Maintains quality and palatability across the seasons
Improves animal intake and utilization
Enhances resilience through variable weather conditions
The result is a pasture that animals want to graze — and one that supports production beyond the traditional ryegrass-only window.
Flexibility Without Losing Dollars
One of the biggest mental barriers is committing capital to a pasture that may need to be removed earlier than planned or won’t survive a long dry period, or you are not sure what you want to do in the next 2-3 years.
Abound removes that risk.
Because it delivers strong early performance, you can:
Crop after one season
Regrass or rotate after two or three years
Or let it run for up to 4–5 years, depending on moisture and management
Like most ryegrasses, Abound does not enjoy prolonged drought. However, where conditions allow, its hybrid nature supports strong persistence — and if required, paddocks can be stitched in at lighter rates after a few years to top up density without a full re-establishment.
That means:
Lower replacement cost
Less downtime
Better lifetime ROI
Whatever direction the farm takes, the pasture has already paid its way.
High Digestibility = High Animal Performance
Abound is bred with feed quality at the core, not just bulk.
Key traits include:
High digestibility
High sugar content
Strong leaf-to-stem ratio
This drives:
Higher intakes
Faster liveweight gains
Improved milk production efficiency
Cleaner grazing and better utilization
In practical terms, less feed is wasted — and more ends up converted into animal output.
Stock Tell the Truth — and They Prefer It
One of the clearest indicators of pasture quality is animal behavior.
Abound is readily grazed by:
Dairy cows
Beef cattle
Sheep
Deer
Across all stock classes, farmers consistently report:
Even grazing
High preference
Minimal rejection|
When animals graze evenly across a paddock, utilization improves — and that directly lifts return on investment per hectare.
More Dry Matter Where It Counts
Compared to traditional perennial pastures, Abound typically produces:
More dry matter per year
Better feed supply through key demand periods
Strong early and mid-life production
While it won’t match a true annual or Italian ryegrass for short-term bulk, it outperforms perennials on an annual basis, without the frequent re-sowing costs of annual systems.
That balance is exactly why Abound works so well in mixed livestock and cropping systems.
A Practical, Profitable Pasture Strategy
Abound suits farmers who:
Want flexibility without compromise
Are planning future crops but still need pasture performance now
Want strong ROI without paying perennial prices
Run dairy, sheep, beef, or deer systems
Value animal preference and utilization over headline yield alone
Abound Hybrid Ryegrass
Performance Now. Flexibility Later.
High digestibility.
High sugar.
Strong early returns.
And the freedom to change direction when it suits you.
Find out more about Abound Hybrid Ryegrass Here