May 2008
New booklet highlights best grass and clovers
Grassland & Muck 2008
A new booklet designed to help farmers in England and Wales to choose the best grass and clover varieties for their system, has been launched at Grassland and Muck 2008 at Stoneleigh, Warwickshire.
Published jointly by NIAB, the British Society of Plant Breeders and the British Grassland Society, the Herbage Varieties Guide provides information on yield and D-value for more than 150 grasses and clovers.
The data is taken from the NIAB Recommended Lists, and draws on independent trials based across England and Wales. The varieties that make it onto the Recommended List are heavily scrutinised and considered by a panel of experts, to ensure only those of genuine value are listed.“Over the past 12 years the Recommended Lists have seen average increases of 5% in yield and over 2% in digestibility, equating to a 10% increase in animal output,” explains NIAB forage manager Don Pendergrast.
“Kingshay/IGER trials have also shown that re-seeded grass and clover pasture can increase milk yield by 2 litres per cow per day. While the cost of purchased feed is so high, it makes sense to maximise the contribution from grass, by replacing or upgrading worn out leys with mixtures of higher yielding, better quality modern varieties.
“However, farmers need to make informed choices about which ones to use in their particular situation, and this is where this new booklet will be very useful.”
The BGS, along with the other organisations involved, was concerned that in recent years, farmers who fund the NIAB trials, have not had free access to the valuable information being generated.
“This new booklet provides a good starting point for farmers planning to improve their pastures,” says BGS director Jessica Buss.
“It includes all the leading varieties of perennial, Italian and hybrid ryegrasses, timothy and red and white clover. More detailed information on areas such as ground cover, seasonal growth patterns and disease resistance is available from all the merchants who participate in the Grass Levy Scheme. Once they have studied the booklet, we would encourage all farmers to go and discuss their seeds mixture requirements with them.”
Ben Wixey, grass and root seed manager for Wynnstay agrees. “Farmers who source their seed through scheme members like us, know they are buying high quality material that has been rigorously tested and trialled in UK conditions.
“Maximising production from forage – be it milk or meat, is the key to future profitability and nothing should be left to chance – including the varieties of grass and clover that are grown. My advice is - if a variety is not on the list, don’t buy it.”
The Herbage Varieties Guide is free for all grassland farmers, and can be obtained from the British Society of Plant Breeders, tel: 01353 653201, or email penny.maplestone@bspb.co.uk.