Late August 2010

With decision time fast approaching for what to put forward for entry into the UK National List system, David Long picks highlights the top-performers.

To be considered for entry, varieties have to consistently out yield the best of the control varieties by a minimum of five percent.  The control varieties are the best of the current recommended varieties. The five percent improvement is a reflection of the steady increase in yield of Recommended List varieties over the five years that the new varieties will be in the NL system.

The best, diploid intermediate perennial ryegrass, comes from Barenbrug’s breeding programme at Connantre, in Northern France, it has consistently out yielded the best of the control varieties Copeland, by eight percent. 

Heading the intermediate tetraploid trial is Bealey, from Barenbrug’s New Zealand breeding programme. Bealey is already in the NL system, and despite suffering significant winter damage, it recovered to give a first cut yield similar to Foyle. 

Tyrella has set a very high level of consistent yield as the control in the late diploid trial, giving a first cut yield this spring of 59 percent more than the average of the trial and it is debatable if any of the new varieties are able to beat it. 

In the late tetraploid trial, the newly recommended variety Dundrum has also set a very high standard.  But one variety, again from our breeding programme based in Connantre, has out yielded Dundrum and will be considered for entry.

UK general situation

The recent change in the weather has made a significant difference to grass growth. Second or third silage cuts, which were thin and stemmy before the rain, have bulked up with new, fresh, leaf growth from the base of the sward. This development has appreciably improved not just the yield, but also the quality of the grass. In many cases fertiliser or slurry which was applied in early summer at the start of the drought, is only now being utilised and leading to the flush of growth.

Many grazing swards or those which have just had their final cut, will benefit from a final fertiliser or slurry application to feed the autumn growth. In most areas, the soil is warm and moisture is not a limiting factor for grass growth, so grass that is fed now, will grow well into the autumn, for as long as soil temperatures hold up. This growth can then be utilised either for grazing or taking an additional cut, reducing the reliance on precious and expensive winter feed.

Similarly the warm moist soil is ideal for re-seeding, as establishment will be rapid and lead to the availability of additional autumn grazing. Last winter’s hard weather, combined with the summer drought has shown up the shortcomings of old, tired leys. Recovery from the winter was slow, affecting first cut yields, and swards with a high proportion of weed and meadow grasses burnt badly during the drought and gave very little grazing.

Conversely, young, vigorous leys, recovered rapidly from the winter, replacing dead tillers with fresh growth and giving good first cut production and young leys have maintained a level of production through the drought and definitely recovered rapidly when it rained – which really does underline the importance of keeping your grass young. To discuss your re-seeding programme call 01359 272000 or email info@baruk.co.uk.

Consistent performance required

All our trials are generating very useful information allowing new potential varieties to be selected for entry into the UK National List system. Cropvale and Aberdeen plots were sown in autumn 2008 with Loughgall a year earlier. All plots were cut throughout 2009 and we now have the results of the first two cuts of 2010, taken in May and July.

In general the May cut reflects the damage caused by the severe winter, with certain varieties being much more susceptible to winter damage, and these varieties will not be entered into the NL system. But there are also varieties that have performed well throughout 2009 and for both cuts this year. The full details are provided on the individual latest trials results pages.