Suitability Evaluation of Three Tropical Pasture Species (Mulato II, Gatton Panic, and Rhodes Grass) for Cultivation under a Subtropical Climate of Australia

Exploring improved tropical forages is considered to be an important approach in delivering quality and consistent feed options for dairy cattle subtropical regions. The present study aimed the suitability of three grasses, Chloris gayana ‘Rhodes grass cv. Reclaimer’ (RR), Megathyrsus maximus ‘Gatton Panic’ (GP), Brachiaria ruziziensis x B. decumbens brizantha ‘Brachiaria Mulato II’ (BM) evaluating their carbon assimilation, canopy structure, herbage plant–part accumulation parameters under irrigated conditions. An experiment was conducted at Gatton Research Dairy (27°54′ S, 152°33′ E, 89 m asl) Queensland, Australia, which has a predominantly climate. Photosynthesis biochemistry, accumulation, plant part composition, nutritive value were evaluated. biochemistry differed between pasture species. Efficiency CO2 assimilation highest GP quantum efficiency BM. Pasture structure significantly affected by interaction species harvest. Forage biomass GP, while BM produced more leaf less stem compared both RR. A greater leafy stratum lower stemmy depth observed vertical sward II showed partitioning leaves, leaf: ratio, canopy, bulk density. It also demonstrated (Total digestible nutrients (TDN), acid detergent fibre (ADF), neutral (NDF), insoluble protein (NDICP), Starch, nonfibre carbohydrates (NFC), metabolisable energy (ME), mineral profile (Mg, P, K, Fe, Zn) dietary cation–anion difference (DCAD) leaf, stem, whole plant. Greater efficiency, suggest as attractive forage option dairying that warrants further research pasture-based systems climates.