Just last week, the most recent Northern Ireland grass seed listing tables were released. The format of the lists has been changed and now the information for each variety is presented in separate silage and grazing tables. Some varieties rank high for both silage and grazing and hence are termed dual-purpose varieties which are noted by the + symbol.

The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute at the Plant Testing Station in Crossnacreevy conducts these recommended list variety trials on behalf of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Although most varieties can be used for both cutting and grazing, some are better performing when used for silage production, while others perform best when grazed. So not all varieties are recommended for both silage and grazing use.

In Northern Ireland, varieties that have been tested in at least five separate trials and found to maintain very high performance levels are termed and presented as ‘bold’ type varieties. These are the varieties I have listed in the tables. There are other varieties that may be performing well but have not yet been tested over five trials or may not be as high-performing as bold type varieties. These are called ‘plain’ varieties. Some varieties can be provisionally recommended pending further data and others can be outclassed as better varieties come on stream. Below is a summary of the most recent changes.

Silage List

Early Perennial Ryegrass: Four variety changes have been made to the recommended list this year. The diploid varieties, Kilrea and Kimber, and the tetraploids, AberTorch and Carraig, have been removed from the silage list.

Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass

Diploids: Twelve varieties had their recommended status changed. Three new varieties (Nifty, Moira and AberWolf) have been added as provisional recommendations. The variety Copeland has moved up to bold and Lineker and Glenariff have moved up from provisional to plain. Bree has been moved down to outclassed and AberDart, AberStar and Gandalf have been removed from the silage list. Gerrison and Bahima 1 were also removed as they are no longer commercially available.

Tetraploids: Eight varieties had their recommended status changed. Two new provisional recommendations have been added, Fintona and Pensel. AberClyde has moved up to plain and Seagoe up to bold. Eurostar, Dunluce and AstonEnergy have moved down from bold to plain, and AberGlyn, having been outclassed last year, was removed from the list.

Late Perennial Ryegrass

Diploids: Five varieties had their recommended status changed. Clanrye has moved up to bold and Drumbo has moved down to plain. Foxtrot has been removed from the silage list and Mateon 1 has been removed as it is no longer commercially available. Twytop, having been outclassed last year, was also removed from the list.

Tetraploids: Seven varieties had their recommended status changed. Glencar and AberGain have moved up to bold and Aspect has moved up to plain. Navan and Tivoli have been moved down to outclassed whereas Elgon and Fornido, having been outclassed last year, were removed from the list.

Grazing List

Early Perennial Ryegrass: Three variety changes have been made to the recommended list this year. The diploid varieties, Kilrea and Kimber have moved down to plain type and in the tetraploids, the provisional variety, Carraig, has been moved up to plain type.

Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass

Diploids: Twelve varieties had their recommended status changed. Three new varieties have been added as provisional recommendations: Nifty, Moira and AberWolf. AberDart and Gandalf have moved up from plain to bold and Lineker and Glenariff have moved up from provisional to plain. Solomon has moved down to plain and Spelga has been removed from the grazing list. Bree has been moved down to outclassed and Gerrison and Bahima 1 were removed as they are no longer commercially available.

Tetraploids: Six varieties had their recommended status changed. Two new provisional recommendations have been added: Fintona and Pensel. AberClyde has moved up to plain and Seagoe up to bold. Glenstal was removed from the grazing list and AberGlyn, having been outclassed last year, was also removed.

Late Perennial Ryegrass

Diploids: Four varieties had their recommended status changed. Pastour has moved down to plain type and Denver was removed from the grazing list. Mateon 1 has been removed from the list as it is no longer commercially available and Twytop, having been outclassed last year, was also removed from the list.

Tetraploids: Eleven varieties had their recommended status changed. Three new provisional varieties have been added to the list: AstonDiamond, Xenon and AberPlentiful. AberGain has moved up to bold and Aspect has moved up to plain. Delphin and AstonPrincess have moved down to plain. Navan and Tivoli have been moved down to outclassed whereas Elgon and Fornido, having been outclassed last year, were removed from the list.

Diploid perennial ryegrass varieties

These varieties comprise the majority of the seed sold in Northern Ireland either as straights or in mixtures. They are long-lived and form swards of good density, giving them a high damage resistance. They are well suited to a wide range of enterprises, as the diverse selection of varieties are capable of producing high silage yields or maintaining high grazing outputs throughout the growing season.

Diploids summary: Generally higher sward density and therefore longer lasting but lower yields and quality than tetraploids.

Tetraploid perennial ryegrass varieties: These varieties tend to have high sugar contents and a tall upright growth habit that promotes high intakes when grazed. They also contain some of the highest yielding perennial ryegrass varieties. Although equally long-lived, they are more open growing than the diploid varieties which they are normally mixed with in order to increase sward density and damage resistance.

Tetraploids summary: Generally higher yields and quality but lower sward density. Not as good for wetter ground and not as long lasting under grazing by cattle as more prone to damage by trampling.