Six of the top 10 varieties on the recommended grass variety list when ranked on the Pasture Profit Index (PPI) are Aber-bred. These Aber varieties come from the Welsh breeding stable at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), part of Aberystwyth University in Wales. Germinal is the Irish partner for IBERS. There are eight Teagasc-bred varieties on the recommended list. In the last 10 years, 15 perennial ryegrass varieties have been bred in Oakpark. Goldcrop is the Teagasc commercial partner.

This year there are four new varieties that make the list: Aberwolf, Fintona, Aberclyde, and Meiduno. The varieties presented in the main table below have been evaluated and ranked using the Teagasc PPI model.

The PPI model for grass variety evaluation assigns economic values to the following traits: seasonal dry matter (DM) production, grass quality, silage DM production and varietal persistency. The pie chart on the facing page provides details of the PPI sub-indices (traits), including the base values assigned to each trait.

All agronomic trial data on which these tables are based comes from official DAFM trials.

The PPI values have been presented with the agronomic data in these tables. These include data from the simulated grazing (frequent cutting) protocol for spring, summer and autumn DM yields, for quality (DMD) and ground cover.

The silage data presented in these tables has been taken from cuts two and three (first- and second-cut silage respectively) of the general purpose protocol.

Data from the 2014 sowings, which includes harvest years 2015 and 2016, is also included in the evaluation of varieties on this year’s recommended list.

Description of varieties starting from the top

Aberclyde: This is its first year on the list. Good seasonal growth and good silage yield. Dry matter digestibility (DMD) is excellent. Ground cover is moderate and variety is persistent.

Abermagic: Excellent summer and autumn growth. DMD is very good and highest in this category. A moderate silage variety. Ground cover is good and variety is persistent.

Nifty: Excellent spring, summer and autumn growth. Moderate silage variety. Ground cover is good and variety is persistent.

Fintona: This is its first year on the list. Very good spring and autumn growth. DMD is moderate. Silage yield, especially first-cut, is good. Ground cover moderate, variety persistent.

Aberchoice: Very good summer and autumn growth. DMD is excellent. Ground cover good, variety persistent.

Aberwolf: This is its first year on the list. Very good spring growth and good summer and autumn growth. Good DMD. A moderate silage variety. Ground cover excellent, variety persistent.

Rosetta: The highest spring growth of all varieties. Moderate autumn growth. A moderate silage variety. Ground cover good, variety persistent.

Abergain: Very good summer and autumn growth. DMD is excellent. Very good silage yield. Ground cover is moderate.

Aberplentiful: Very good seasonal growth, especially spring and summer. DMD is good. Ground cover moderate, variety persistent.

Seagoe: Good seasonal growth. Excellent silage yield, with highest in the intermediate tetraploids. Ground cover good, variety persistent.

Dunluce: Good summer and autumn growth. DMD is very good and silage yield is moderate. It is the latest heading tetraploid variety in the intermediates group. Ground cover moderate, variety persistent.

Meiduno: First year on the list. Very good seasonal growth. Moderate silage yield. Ground cover moderate.

Solas: Very good summer and autumn growth. DMD and silage yield are good. Ground cover good, variety persistent.

Magician: Spring growth is good. DMD is moderate. Silage yield good. Ground cover moderate, variety persistent.

Astonenergy: Good summer and autumn growth. DMD is excellent. Ground cover moderate, variety persistent.

Xenon: Good summer and autumn growth. DMD is very good. Ground cover is very good for a late tetraploid. The variety is persistent.

Kintyre: Good seasonal growth, with very good autumn growth. DMD is good. Ground cover is good.

Solomon: Spring growth is very good. Silage yield is very good. Ground cover is good and variety is persistent.

Alfonso: Good summer and autumn growth. DMD is very good. Ground cover is good and the variety is persistent.

Aspect: Moderate seasonal growth. DMD is good. Ground cover is very good and the variety is persistent.

Boyne: Highest silage yield of all the varieties, especially first-cut yield. Ground cover good, variety persistent.

Carraig: Moderate seasonal growth and silage yield. Ground cover is among the best of the intermediate tetraploids and the variety is persistent.

Navan: Good summer and autumn growth. DMD is good. Ground cover is moderate.

Drumbo: Good summer and autumn yield. DMD is very good. Ground cover is good.

Kerry: Good seasonal growth. Earliest heading date in the late diploid category. Ground cover is good.

Glenroyal: Good summer and autumn growth. Ground cover is very good and variety is persistent.

Delphin: Good summer and autumn growth. Ground cover is moderate.

Clanrye: Good spring and summer growth. Very good second-cut silage yield. Autumn growth is moderate. Ground cover excellent, variety persistent.

Majestic: Moderate seasonal growth. Ground cover good, variety persistent.

Glenveagh: Moderate seasonal growth. Ground cover excellent, variety persistent.

Stefani: Moderate summer and autumn growth. Good ground cover, variety persistent.

Piccadilly: Moderate seasonal growth. Silage yield is good. Ground cover good, variety persistent.

Tyrella: Good spring growth. Summer and autumn growth is moderate. Ground cover is good.