Mew Zealand
October 24, 2017
High performance ryegrasses bred through an innovative and award–winning forage improvement programme are making their mark in New Zealand. Germinal New Zealand is providing animal performance and environmental benefits to New Zealand farmers with their Aber High Sugar Grass (HSG).
Bred at the Institute of Biological Environmental and Rural Science (IBERS), Aber HSG ryegrasses contain significantly higher levels of water–soluble carbohydrates (WSC), or sugar, than conventional ryegrasses. This has been verified in independent NZ trials, where data is showing a significant increase in the WSC content of Aber HSG compared with many other conventional ryegrasses.
In a recently concluded National Forage Variety Trial (NFVT) in Southland, AberGreen was the highest yielding variety in the third year of the trial. It is also the highest yielding variety in late spring south of Taupo. As a result, Germinal NZ are confident that Aber HSG has a fit in every farm system.
Higher sugar means more energy, and this is significant in the way it helps ruminant livestock improve their conversion of grass protein into meat and milk. In effect, Aber HSG creates a better balance of energy and protein in the rumen, allowing the microbes responsible for the breakdown of forage to operate more efficiently, so more protein is converted to milk and meat, and less is excreted into the environment.
Independent NZ data has shown a 10% increase in autumn milk solids from cows fed Aber HSG. A Southland based trial run by Abacus Bio demonstrated lambs grazing Aber HSG finished 17% faster and 19% heavier than lambs grazing a standard NZ ryegrass.
Reducing the amount of nitrogen that is excreted means less impact on the environment, specifically in terms of a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, including methane, nitrous oxide and ammonia. In New Zealand, the release of methane gas from ruminants amounts to one–third of greenhouse gas emissions. NZ data has shown a 9% reduction in methane emissions from sheep fed on the Aber HSG variety AberMagic when compared to a conventional diploid variety. Similar research has also shown rumen ammonia to be significantly lower in cows grazing Aber HSG.
This science has already been recognised in the UK, where livestock farmers involved in the Asda, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose supply chains are encouraged to use Aber HSG varieties to improve production efficiencies, animal performance and reduce their carbon footprint.
Grass that improves the performance of livestock whilst reducing their carbon footprint offers New Zealand farmers a real win:win; it’s a modern solution to today’s farming challenges and technology that requires no notable change of system.
Contact Germinal NZ on 0800 171 825, or your local merchant, to find out more about how Aber HSG could work in your farm system today.
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