Tall fescue is the most widely grown cool-season grass in Uruguay, making up 70% of the total cultivated pasture area (500,000 ha). It is more productive and persistent than perennial ryegrass in the country. Continental tall fescues are adapted to the southern and central regions, with or without irrigation, but are not as well adapted to the more humid and hotter northern regions, where persistence has been poor. Low production and persistence are due to low soil fertility, limited fertilizer use, and uncontrolled grazing management. Recently, enterprises with good fertilization and grazing managements have achieved high animal production with tall fescue on both beef rearing and dairy properties. Mediterranean fescues may not be well suited in most parts of Uruguay; persistence is poor, as it is in most areas with subtropical climates, because of the competition from subtropical grasses.
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