"The lambs that were weaned off the plantain were a kilo heavier in carcass weight than the lambs that were grazed on pasture. And the ewe hoggets weaned 1.2kg heavier than those on pasture.
"Forty-eight per cent of the lambs weaned off the plantain mob graded better off mum compared with 21 per cent off the grass mob. It was clear that the plantain lambs graded better, yielded better and put on weight faster."
Tilson says the lambs on the plantain put on 350g a day on average from the date of lambing to weaning, a far better lactational growth rate than expected.
"The plantain is very palatable and seems to digest well. I find the lambs graze the whole paddock very evenly.
"Having plantain meant that during last year's drought we were able to grow all our Primera rams out to meet contractual demands from farmers. Without plantain we would have been very challenged."
Tilson says plantain enables them to get their replacement Highlander ewe lambs to a mature body weight earlier.
"We can mate our hoggets earlier so we can get the genetic gains earlier without compromising growth rates.
"We just weaned our hogget replacements in January.
"They came off the plantain at 66.5kg. They had put on 4.5kg while also rearing a lamb, so we were thrilled with their performance."
Plantain must be managed well. "You really have to keep on top of it. We graze it when the height of the plantain is the height of a stubby beer bottle and we take the stock out when it's the height of a stubby beer bottle lying on it's side. You can't just stick your stock in there and forget about them."
Opepe Trust farm manager Ryan Mason has planted more than 300ha of tonic plantain on his Central Plateau farm and says it's been one of the best decisions he has ever made. "We have light soil and poor fertility as well as challenging climatic conditions so we need a crop that can handle our harsh environment. We need something that can give us growth all year around and plantain provides the answer."
Opepe Trust grazes dairy heifers and calves on the plantain and also finishes its Primera/Highlander and Primera/Romney lambs on plantain.
The farm produces 10,500 lambs and sells some fat and some store.
"Plantain has enabled us to lamb earlier and get better results. We drafted 50 per cent of our lambs off mum fat this year, which is a record for Opepe Trust, given we farm in such a tough climate."
The property used to have 100 per cent brown-top grass but 10 per cent is now plantain and Mason intends growing more. "Plantain is a good year-round plant that is low cost and easy to establish in a low-fertile environment." We have piece of mind knowing we have the feed available going into the winter and during droughts. "This enables us to focus on good genetics and management."
Agricom eastern North Island sales manager Hamish Best says its tonic plantain sales have increased over the past three years. "Tonic plantain is the next big step forward for hill country breeding units. Farmers are now able to put their ewes having multiples on to a feed source that puts weight on the ewe and her lambs, improving the percentage of lambs weaned direct to slaughter."
Focus Genetics chief executive Gavin Foulsham has welcomed farmers' interest in plantain and was pleased with the field day turnout at Awapai Station.
Foulsham is keen to encourage farmers to challenge their genetics to deliver on the promise and reap the rewards of that investment.
"I think Awapai's results demonstrate the value of matching your investment in forage, with an appropriate investment in genetics or vice versa."
"It makes sense that if you are going to invest in quality genetics you need to ensure that you are providing them with the forage that allows the animals to express their genetic potential."
