Which type of grass is right for your farm?
Mixtures:
At St. Catherine’s Seeds, we recommend reseeding with a mixture of different grasses and clover, rather than sowing a single variety. This approach can provide significant yield benefits compared to planting the same varieties individually. By combining the digestibility of Perennial Ryegrass (PRG) with the high yield of Hybrid Ryegrass (HRG) and the superior nutrient value of white clover, you can optimise the performance of your fields.
Understanding Heading Dates:
Grasses are classified by their heading date, which is when 50% of the ears in fertile tillers have emerged. Early varieties of ryegrass reach this stage in the first two weeks of May. Intermediate varieties head in the second half of May, while late varieties reach this stage in the first two weeks of June. Generally, early heading varieties grow earlier in the spring, are more erect, tiller less freely, and are easier to cut for conservation. In contrast, later heading varieties tend to be more prostrate, persistent, and provide excellent mid-season growth.
Choosing the Right Ryegrass:
Ryegrass is the most important sown grass in Great Britain due to its productivity and suitability for our climate and farming systems.
- Perennial Ryegrass (PRG): Offers consistently good yields of high-quality forage.
- Italian Ryegrass (IRG): Yields higher than PRG but lacks persistence.
- Hybrid Ryegrass (HRG): Combines the best traits of perennial and Italian varieties, offering the sward density of PRG and the extended growth period of IRG.
Certainly! Here’s a revised version addressing your farmer/land manager customers directly:
Choosing the Right Grass for Your Fields
Each type of grass has unique growth and quality characteristics. When reseeding, it’s essential to select the most appropriate grasses and clovers to match your specific situation and meet your objectives for each field.
Perennial Ryegrass (PRG):
- As a leading choice for many farmers, most breeding efforts have focused on PRG.
- It establishes rapidly, even from autumn sowing.
- Expect high yields in the first harvest year.
- Its high sugar content is excellent for silage-making.
- PRG produces dense and persistent swards, making it ideal for long-term leys and establishing permanent pasture.
Ideal for all types of management, whether for silage or hay production, and both extensive and intensive grazing.
Italian Ryegrass (IRG):
- Known for heavy crops of silage or hay.
- Best suited for short-term leys of one to three years.
- Its long growing season allows for early grazing followed by a leafy hay or silage cut.
Best for cutting, but also suitable for intensive spring grazing.
Hybrid Ryegrass (HRG):
- Provides better ground cover and is longer-lived than IRG.
- Exhibits good winter hardiness and disease resistance.
- Offers mid-season digestibility better than IRG, though not as high as PRG.
- First-year yields may be lower than IRG, but improve in the second and third years.
- More drought-resistant compared to IRG.
Ideal for silage production and cattle rotational grazing.
Diploids vs. Tetraploids:
- Tetraploids: Have twice the number of chromosomes as diploids, resulting in larger cells, seeds, and leaves. They tend to establish quickly and are competitive for over-seeding. Tetraploids have a more upright growth habit, are suited to drier conditions, and often have better digestibility and palatability.
- Diploids: Tend to be more persistent, tiller more freely, and are generally better for wetter growing conditions. Well-managed diploid leys usually produce denser swards.
Speak to Jonathan and his team to help you choose the best grass varieties to meet your specific needs, ensuring great performance and productivity for your fields.
