Since leasing the farm five years ago, the couple – with their two daughters, Zoe and Matilda – have sought pasture varieties that thrive in Tasmania’s variable climate, provide high-quality feed for their 500 spring-calving Friesian-Jersey cross cows, seasonal system and support their family’s bottom line.
Finding a persistent ryegrass variety that could withstand dry spells, stay leafy longer into spring, and still provide solid winter growth was their primary challenge. While local recommendations were helpful, Rory wanted an independent benchmark.
That search led to the Dairy Australia FVI, which provides annual rankings on the potential economic value of Perennial, Italian and Annual ryegrass varieties currently on the market.
“Most farming families spend hours choosing the best bull for their herd. It’s the same principle with grass – we should be using the top-performing variety for the greatest impact,” Rory explains.
Motivated by FVI rankings, Rory began with a high-performing variety and then when newer varieties started appearing at the top, Rory and his agronomist looked into other options.
“I wouldn’t have known about these newer varietal options without the FVI, and some of these have impressed me,” he says.
About half the farm is irrigated – producing 15-20 tonnes of dry matter per hectare – while the remaining dryland sections yield 7-10 tonnes. By comparing these areas, Rory has seen that high-ranking cultivars in the FVI consistently deliver under diverse conditions.
The Wellwoods share-farm another property and lease a 153-hectare runoff block for young stock and wintering, with surplus silage brought back to the main feeding platform.
Each cow receives 1-1.5 tonnes of grain per year, supplemented by 500-1,000 round bales of silage during summer, 500-700 bales of hay in winter, and turnips grown for extra summer feed.
In the past, Rory measured grass growth weekly. Now, he relies on a combination of periodic soil tests, keen observation, and insights from local field days and research trials supported by Dairy Australia.
“If we see a new top performer, we’ll bring that knowledge straight back to the farm,” Rory says.
Planning is essential, he adds.
“Even if you have a budget, the FVI helps you find the best seed for your buck.”
The FVI has been highly valuable for Rory. It’s a simple tool to select cultivars that best fit their farming environment.
“The biggest kick is seeing your herd of cows in a lush field of grass in the morning – knowing they’re healthy and producing high-quality milk.”
As climate variability challenges dairy operations, the Wellwoods remain agile by leveraging the latest research.
“We aim to grow more grass with fewer inputs. Future varieties will need to be very nitrogen-efficient and more resilient to climate extremes – it’s either pouring rain or bone-dry,” Rory says.
The Forage Value Index is one of the many ways that Dairy Australia delivers outcomes from research to improve herd and feed genetics, as well as providing farmers with insights to support their decision making.
The 2025 FVI tables are available now at Forage Value Index | Dairy Australia.
The FVI tables have been developed annually since 2017 by Dairy Australia, in collaboration with DataGene, Meat & Livestock Australia and the Pasture Trials Network. It provides an independent and reliable assessment on the potential economic value of Perennial, Italian and Annual ryegrass cultivars.
