Chicory is a perennial forage herb characterised by high nutritional quality, and the potential to produce high dry matter yields from spring to late autumn. It has proven to be an excellent source of feed for finishing stock. Chicory produces leafy top growth and has a thick, deep tap root giving it excellent drought tolerance and mineral extraction. Chicory has exhibited tolerance to acidity and for this reason has been successfully grown in low pH soils (chicory will remain productive at soil pH of 4.5, however pH greater than 5.5 is recommended). In addition to this chicory has good disease resistance and insect tolerance and with appropriate grazing management can provide viable stands for five or more years.

Advantages of Chicory

• Highly palatable forage.
• Excellent feed source for high livestock growth rates.
• Provides high quality feed through summer using summer rain, irrigation or stored soil water.
• Able to produce high quality forage on acid soils.
• Recovers quickly after grazing
• Does not cause bloat.
• Can be used for silage production as part of a pasture mix.