DLF Kora Tall Fescue Seed 50lbs - Endophyte Free Premium Forage Variety

DLF Kora Tall Fescue - Premium Endophyte-Free Forage Variety for Superior Livestock Performance

Kora tall fescue represents a breakthrough in forage quality, combining the legendary persistence and drought tolerance of tall fescue with exceptional digestibility and palatability. Bred in Central Europe for extreme cold and drought tolerance, this endophyte-free variety delivers high yields without the animal health concerns associated with toxic endophyte strains.

Key Features & Benefits:

• Endophyte Free: Safe for all livestock including horses, pregnant mares, and breeding cattle - no fescue toxicity concerns
• Exceptional Digestibility: Swiss official trials confirm very high digestibility, significantly superior to standard tall fescue
• Very High Yielding: Maintains the impressive dry matter productivity typical of tall fescue varieties
• Medium-Late Maturity: Optimal harvest timing for high-quality hay production across North America
• Extreme Cold Tolerance: Central European breeding ensures superior winter hardiness
• Outstanding Drought Tolerance: Deep root system provides resilience during extended dry periods
• Excellent Disease Resistance: Strong resistance to common tall fescue diseases maintains stand health
• High Forage Quality: Superior palatability and nutritional value compared to traditional tall fescue
• Long Stand Life: Persistent variety that maintains productivity for 7+ years

Why Endophyte-Free Matters:

Traditional tall fescue often contains toxic endophyte fungi that can cause serious livestock health issues including fescue toxicosis, reduced weight gains, poor reproductive performance, and heat stress. Kora is completely endophyte-free, making it safe for:

• Horses: No risk of fescue toxicity, mare reproductive problems, or prolonged gestation
• Pregnant Cattle: Safe for breeding herds without reproductive issues
• Dairy Cattle: No reduction in milk production from endophyte toxins
• Beef Cattle: Optimal weight gains without heat stress or reduced feed intake
• Sheep and Goats: Safe grazing without toxicity concerns

Ideal For:

• Horse hay and pasture production
• Beef and dairy cattle forage programs
• Breeding livestock operations
• High-quality hay production
• Drought-prone regions requiring persistent forage
• Long-term pasture and hay stands
• Mixed grass-legume stands
• Challenging soil conditions and variable climates

Medium-Late Maturity Advantage:

Kora's medium-late maturity provides significant benefits over early-maturing varieties:

• Optimal Harvest Timing: Matures when weather conditions are more favorable for hay making
• Better Field Conditions: Fields are typically dry enough for equipment traffic at harvest time
• High-Quality Hay: Harvest window aligns with optimal forage quality
• Flexible Management: Doesn't force early grazing on wet spring pastures
• Extended Vegetative Growth: Longer period of high-quality vegetative growth before heading

Seeding Rates:

• Pure Tall Fescue Stand: 20-25 lbs per acre
• Tall Fescue-Alfalfa Mix: 12-15 lbs fescue + 12-15 lbs alfalfa per acre
• Tall Fescue-Clover Mix: 15-18 lbs fescue + 4-6 lbs clover per acre
• Pasture Mix: 12-18 lbs fescue + other grasses/legumes per acre

Planting Guidelines:

• Best Planting Time: Early spring or late summer/early fall (6-8 weeks before first frost)
• Soil Requirements: Adaptable to wide range of soil types; tolerates heavy, poorly drained soils better than most grasses
• Depth: Plant 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep
• Seedbed Preparation: Firm, well-prepared seedbed for optimal seed-to-soil contact
• Soil pH: 5.5-7.0 optimal; tolerates acidic soils better than most forage grasses
• Fertility: Responds well to nitrogen and potassium applications

Management Recommendations:

• First Year: Take light first cutting to allow stand establishment; avoid overgrazing
• Harvest Timing: Cut at boot to early head stage for optimal quality
• Cutting Height: Maintain 3-4 inch stubble to protect growing points and promote regrowth
• Grazing Management: Rotational grazing recommended; graze to 3-4 inches and allow regrowth to 8-10 inches
• Nitrogen Application: Apply 50-80 lbs N/acre after each cutting for optimal regrowth and yield
• Fall Management: Allow adequate regrowth before winter; can provide fall and winter grazing

Expected Performance:

• Establishment: Good germination and seedling vigor
• First Year Yield: 2-4 tons per acre (depending on planting date)
• Mature Stand Yield: 4-7 tons per acre across multiple cuttings
• Stand Life: 7-10 years with proper management
• Forage Quality: Superior digestibility and palatability for tall fescue

Nutritional Value (Boot to Early Head Stage):

• Crude Protein: 12-16%
• Energy: High TDN (Total Digestible Nutrients)
• Digestibility: Very high - significantly superior to standard tall fescue varieties
• Palatability: Excellent - livestock show strong preference over traditional tall fescue
• Ideal for: Horses, dairy cattle, beef cattle, sheep, and goats

Exceptional Digestibility:

Swiss official trials have confirmed that Kora possesses very high digestibility, a spectacular improvement over traditional tall fescue varieties. This means:

• Better livestock performance and weight gains
• Improved milk production in dairy operations
• Higher feed efficiency and nutrient utilization
• Reduced feed costs per pound of gain
• Superior animal health and condition

Climate Adaptability:

• Cold Tolerance: Exceptional winter hardiness from Central European breeding
• Drought Tolerance: Outstanding resilience during extended dry periods
• Heat Tolerance: Good summer production; endophyte-free means no heat stress issues
• Moisture Range: Performs well in both dryland and irrigated systems
• Geographic Range: Adapted to diverse climates across North America

Soil Adaptability:

• Tolerates heavy clay soils better than most forage grasses
• Performs well on poorly drained soils
• Excellent on acidic soils (pH 5.5-6.5)
• Deep root system accesses moisture and nutrients in challenging conditions
• Ideal for marginal ground where other grasses struggle

Disease Resistance:

• Excellent resistance to common tall fescue diseases
• Strong crown rust resistance
• Good leaf spot resistance
• Maintains stand health and productivity over time
• Reduced need for fungicide applications

Perfect Legume Companions:

Kora works exceptionally well when mixed with:

• Alfalfa: Boosts protein content and adds nitrogen to the system
• Red Clover: Increases yield and protein while improving soil fertility
• White Clover: Excellent for pasture mixes, adds nitrogen and palatability
• Birdsfoot Trefoil: Non-bloating legume that complements tall fescue well

Year-Round Forage Production:

• Spring: Early green-up provides quality grazing
• Summer: Maintains production during heat and drought when other grasses go dormant
• Fall: Continues growing in cool temperatures for extended grazing
• Winter: Can provide stockpiled forage for winter grazing in many regions

Stand Longevity:

Kora's persistence is legendary among forage grasses:

• Maintains productivity for 7-10 years with proper management
• Deep root system ensures survival during drought and winter stress
• Excellent recovery from grazing or cutting
• Fills in bare spots through tillering
• Maximizes return on seeding investment

Why Choose Kora for Horse Operations?

Horse owners and breeders specifically seek endophyte-free tall fescue because toxic endophyte strains can cause:

• Prolonged gestation in pregnant mares
• Thickened placentas and difficult births
• Reduced milk production in nursing mares
• Poor foal development and health
• Heat stress and reduced performance

Kora eliminates all these concerns while providing the persistence, drought tolerance, and year-round production that make tall fescue so valuable for horse pastures and hay.

Central European Breeding Advantage:

Kora's origins in Central Europe's challenging climate resulted in a variety with exceptional environmental resilience. The natural weather conditions in that region - cold winters, variable precipitation, and temperature extremes - created selection pressure for the very traits that make Kora so valuable: extreme cold tolerance, outstanding drought resistance, and the ability to thrive in challenging conditions.

DLF Kora Tall Fescue is a product of DLF Canada, a global leader in forage breeding and seed production. Kora combines advanced European genetics with proven North American performance for growers who demand the best in forage quality and livestock safety.

Package Size: 50 lbs