United Kingdom
September 23, 2016

Italian Ryegrass Guide

In prolonged periods of difficult growing conditions, many livestock farmers turn to Italian ryegrass in spring to produce large quantities of forage to replenish silage stocks and offer quickly available grazing. 

2016 has seen an increased consumption of Italian ryegrass swards both in response to flood damage, a cold spring and a need for short term grasses within arable rotations due to CAP demands and also poorly performing soils.

Discover more about making the most out of Italian Ryegrasses with our useful guide.

The benefits of Italian Ryegrass

• Spring sown, Italian Ryegrass will produce greater yields than maize or whole-crop

• It’s a very aggressive grass and from sowing to first grazing can be as little as six weeks, with a first cut 12 weeks from sowing

• Biggest yielding grass available and will out yield conventional perennial leys by more than 20%

• Germinates and grows at lower soil temperatures than conventional grass seed and can be sown two weeks earlier and will grow at least two weeks later in the autumn

• Cutting and grazing can be mixed throughout the summer, allowing the crop to be managed to meet needs

• Established in the same way as other long term leys, there is no specialist equipment required

• Two-year, flexible crop which can be cut or grazed and provides excellent winter grazing

Website: http://www.barenbrug.co.uk

Published: September 23, 2016