Alternative forage grasses and clovers
In
certain very special situations where particular enterprises or very difficult growing conditions do
not favour these popular species then the use of alternatives may be preferable. Although the Department
of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) does
not routinely test varieties of these species, the general attributes and the names of the most well
known varieties are as follows:
- Westerwolds ryegrass:
A fast establishing,
fast growing annual with an open sward structure and very poor winterhardiness. Sown in Spring, it will
produce seed-heads and high first cut silage yields in the summer. It will then continue growing to
give further silage harvests until winter, when it will normally die out. There are no UK registered
varieties but EU listings include Avance(T), Elunaria(T), Glds Tama(T), Lifloria, Tewera(T) and Weldra.
- Cocksfoot: Produces similar yields in N. Ireland to
Timothy and develops seed-heads
in early May. It is very persistent and deep rooted and so is suited to light or gravely soil where
mid-summer drought may cause problems. Its relatively poor palatability means that it is best, sown
on its own, for hay or silage use. AberTop, Ludovic, Prairial and Sparta are UK registered varieties
and Arly Athos, Cambria, Dactus, Jesper, Ladoga, Lidacta, Lully and Saborto are EU available varieties.
- Meadow Fescue: A productive, persistent and nutritive
grass that is tolerant
of heavy moist soils and low fertility. It tends to be competed out of swards by ryegrass and so is
best used combined with Timothy and white clover to produce palatable grazing swards. No varieties are
registered in the UK, but varieties likely to be commercially available include Bundy, Darimo, Merifest,
Mimer, Rossa, Senu and Swift.
- Tall Fescue: A particularly
high yielding, persistent
grass which is cold tolerant and productive during the winter and in early Spring when it can provide
useful herbage. Its value is rather limited by its slow establishment and low palatability and is probably
easier utilized for cutting than for grazing. Talisman is the only UK registered variety.
- Creeping
Red Fescue: A low yielding but palatable, persistent and dense, creeping grass that is tolerant
of low
fertility and cold. Mainly used to improve sward density under very severe conditions. Most varieties
are amenity types but some can be used agronomically. The UK registered varieties are Abervelvet, Barcrown,
Boreal, Count, Helena, Jasper, Javelin, Kristina, Lovisa, Oriflamme, Silhoute, Syliva, Twysport and
Wilma.
- Alternative legumes: In addition to white clover
there are several
other pasture legumes that may be of value in exceptional circumstances or in some organic systems.
Red Clover is grown mainly for conservation and divides into early varieties that have high Spring growth,
a large first cut and smaller subsequent cuts (available varieties include Marco, Mercury, Merviot,
and the tetraploids Essex Broad Red, Marcom and Sara). Late varieties are two weeks later flowering,
are slower in Spring, give their main yield at the first cut and are more persistent and suited to medium-term
use (available varieties are Altaswede, Britta Lemmon and the tetraploid Rotra). Lucerne is best cut
for conservation on approximately a 40 day rotation, giving 3-4 cuts per year. (Vertus is the only UK
registered variety but Capri, Daisy, Diane, Europe, Euver, Marshal, Mercedes, Pondus and Vela may be
available) Alsike clover is an alternative to red clover but is much lower yielding. Sainfoin is a much
lower yielding alternative to Lucerne and is for specialist use particularly on chalk or limestone soils.
EU varieties include Aigaion, Bellante, Carmen, Corona, Grimaldi andS. Omero
Note:
Seed of other varieties may become available during the year. For up-to-date information contact the
Plant Testing Station, AFBI, Crossnacreevy.
