Match grass varieties to the farm
Low cereal prices can make alternatives to grass look attractive and can even undercut the cost of silage, so it’s important to stop thinking of grass as the cheapest feed. “But in essence grass is the cheapest feed providing you grow it efficiently.”
Independent consultant Charlie Morgan said choosing the correct grasses for particular soils and farm conditions was “absolutely vital”.
“You wouldn’t let your merchant select a bull for you so why do you leave it to him to choose your grass mixture? That’s not disrespectful to your merchant, it’s just that he doesn’t know exactly what you need and in most cases neither do you.
“No grass will do everything – that’s why it’s essential to get the right mix for the most efficient and profitable output from each ley,” said Mr Morgan.
Genetic improvement in ryegrasses had been huge and farmers should recognise that, just as they understand how the performance of their stock has improved through use of superior genetics.
“Look for mixtures with a good balance of production and persistency. Italian ryegrasses are now capable of yielding 17t/ha of dry matter – tremendous for silage production. Perennial ryegrasses can produce up to 15.5t/ha and have good versatility – but base your selection on either cutting or grazing, depending on your needs,” said Mr Morgan.
Although yield was important, farmers must also consider the quality of grass that a particular mixture will produce. “Animals need energy and the sugar level – the ME – is the key. Insufficient ME means animals under-perform. Ryegrasses can achieve ME of more than 12 – and concentrates only achieve 12.5.
“High digestibility was also an important consideration. Animals have got to eat this stuff. And if you look in the new NIAB recommended list you will now see the first grass listed that has achieved an 80% D-value. That’s a massive genetic leap forward considering that 20 years ago a 73% D-value was considered to be good.
“Plant breeders have created a tremendous opportunity to grow high yields of top-quality, highly digestible grass. Now it’s up to farmers to make full use of it.”