Unlock your farm’s potential with the Recommended Grass and Clover Lists

The cost of production per litre of milk or kg of liveweight gain is a major consideration for all livestock producers. One of the best ways to reduce costs is to produce more forage on the farm rather than buying feed in.

Do not leave grass variety selection to the last minute and end up letting price be the biggest driver when it comes to reseeding. To benefit from better yield and field performance, as well as cut costs, the key is to plan and take a structured approach.

Seed price should be costed over the sward lifetime as it yields more grass of better quality, resulting in superior animal performance. Do not expect one seed mix to fit every purpose. No single variety can do all jobs, whether it is cut and graze, rotational grazing on a platform, or growing livestock.

It is important to get specialist help to single out specific varieties and create the right mix of grasses to meet individual farm needs. Ask about the seasonality of grass growth to plan the bulk of growth, together with appropriate utilisation.

Think about livestock needs, field sites or extreme conditions such as drought. Look at soils, pH and topography: do not just get hung up about heading dates.

Only select grasses from the Recommended Grass and Clover List as they have been independently tested by the National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB).

Focus on quality – not just yield – and do not forget persistency or ground cover. A persistent high-quality grass means you do not need to reseed as often, which cuts costs.

Ground cover also reduces weed ingress. In some areas, disease risk is a priority to consider as it affects grass performance and palatability.

What should a seed mixture include?

Mixtures can produce yield benefits when compared to the same varieties sown individually.

They also allow farmers to capitalise on the strengths of different species. For instance, the digestibility of perennial ryegrass (PRG) can be combined with the yield of a hybrid ryegrass (HRG) and the superior nutrient value of white clover in one field.

Should I pick a variety with an early, intermediate, or late heading date?

This will depend on your system: early varieties of ryegrass reach their heading date in the first two weeks of May; intermediate varieties head during the second half of May, and late varieties reach this stage during the first two weeks of June.

In general, early-heading varieties grow earlier in the spring, are more erect, tiller less freely and are easier to cut for conservation. Later-heading varieties tend to be more prostrate and persistent, and give good mid-season growth.

Which type of grass should I choose?

Each type of grass has different growth and quality characteristics. When reseeding, it is important to select the most appropriate grasses and clovers for the situation and to meet the objectives set for each field.

Ryegrass is the most important sown grass grown in GB due to its productivity and suitability to the climate and farming systems.

Perennial ryegrasses (PRG) produce persistently good yields of high-quality forage. They tend to be good for all types of management, e.g. silage or hay production, extensive or intensive grazing.

• Establishes rapidly, even from autumn sowing
• High yields in the first harvest year
• High sugar content makes it good for silage-making
• Produces dense and persistent swards, so useful for long-term leys and establishing permanent pasture

Italian ryegrass (IRG) yields higher than PRG but has poor persistence. They are good for cutting but can also be used for intensive spring grazing.

• Produces heavy crops of silage or hay
• Useful for short-term leys of one to three years
• Long growing season allows ‘early-bite’ grazing followed by leafy hay or silage cut

Hybrid ryegrass (HRG) is a cross between perennial and Italian varieties, combining the strengths of the two parent species, e.g. the sward density of PRG and the out-of-season growth of IRG. They are good for silage production and cattle rotational grazing.

• Better ground cover and longer life than IRG
• Good winter hardiness and disease resistance
• Mid-season digestibility is better than IRG but poorer than PRG
• First-year yields are lower than IRG, but yield improves in the second and third year
• More drought resistant than IRG

What is the difference between diploids and tetraploids?

Tetraploids have a more upright growth habit and are suited to drier growing conditions. In some cases, they have better digestibility and palatability than diploids.

Diploids tend to be more persistent, tiller more freely and are better suited to wetter growing conditions. Well-managed diploid leys will usually produce denser swards.

• For 2-year leys – use tetraploid and diploid Italian ryegrasses
• For 3–4-year leys – use hybrid ryegrass and early perennial ryegrasses
• For long-term leys – use intermediate and late perennial ryegrasses

Where can I get more information?

Visit the Recommended Grass and Clover Lists (RGCL) to:

• Find out more about the six new varieties released for the 2023/24 season
• Download the 2023/24 RGCL handbook and the full list for merchants
• Order a hard copy of the handbook
• Use the online interactive version to compare varieties for selection
• Access a webinar about choosing the correct grass and clover varieties to suit your system and provide tips for a successful reseed via short presentations and a Q&A session.
• Access information on how to get the best from your grassland reseeds