The positive start to the year is allowing some flocks to bring forward reseeding decisions. This rings true for farmers with surplus grass supplies reseeding permanent pasture or getting grass seed in following forage crops.

Decisions on reseeding require proper planning given the scale of the investment, with costs averaging anywhere from €250/ac to €330/ac depending on the method used and aspects such as lime application and contractor costs.

There is no question that the investment is capable of quickly paying for itself, provided the reseed is looked after and the benefits of increased animal performance and the volume of forage produced are capitalised upon.

If there are significant weed issues in the previous sward then it may be worth delaying clover incorporation until you are sure these problems have been dealt with. \ Donal O'Leary

Some lowly stocked farms often highlight poor persistency in a new reseed but where this occurs there is generally a number of potential underlying factors at play. New swards have a high demand for regular nitrogen application to promote strong establishment of the sward. Farms operated at a high stocking rate can justify regular nitrogen application as the grazing intensity and grassland management tools are usually present to capitalise on higher grass growth rates.

This is in contrast to a low stocking rate, where sometimes it is harder to continue feeding the sward adequately, resulting in the quality of the sward suffering.

Soil fertility

One of the greatest contributing factors for a new reseed failing to deliver is soil fertility. Perennial ryegrass swards thrive with a pH upwards of 6.0 and do not perform well in low pH soils, gradually disappearing over time. Furthermore, there is an added complication of vital nutrients being locked up and poor sward establishment.

Even where the pH is relatively good, it is frequently recommended to apply 1t to 2t lime per acre to help the breakdown of organic matter and nutrient availability

The first step in any reseeding decision should be to assess soil analysis information or where a recent analysis is not available to have a soil test taken. A cost of €12 to €25 (higher cost where samples are taken by advice provider) per sample will cover a uniform area of 10ac to 12ac and is a small price given the investment at stake.

Even where the pH is relatively good, it is frequently recommended to apply 1t to 2t lime per acre to help the breakdown of organic matter and nutrient availability. For some drystock farmers operating at low stocking rates, rectifying soil fertility issues may deliver a sufficient boost in grass growth and may satisfy your needs. Other issues such as land drainage should also be addressed in advance of reseeding, with sufficient time given where cleaning boundary or intermediate drains fed by shores to ensure issues are rectified.

Variety selection

The variety or varieties of grass seed selected will hopefully have a lasting influence on the sward for the next 10 years. The starting point in variety selection is deciding what the primary goal of the sward is. For many sheep systems or mixed sheep and suckler/beef systems, it is usually a mixture of grazing and silage. The key traits usually sought in a seasonal grass-based production system are a balance between high-quality feed value, high seasonal production and good persistency.

Diploids have a better tillering capacity, with greater ground cover leading to a denser sward

Monocultures have become a popular choice in intensive grazing systems such as dairying but for sheep systems the general choice is a mixture of tetraploids and diploids. Tetraploid varieties are described as having higher digestibility than diploids and are more drought-resistant. They tend to grow upright with a lower tiller density, however, and this can lead to open swards which can affect persistency in wetter soils.

Diploids have a better tillering capacity, with greater ground cover leading to a denser sward. They also have a higher dry matter. The recommendation for a general-purpose sward on soils which are often more vulnerable to being wetter is a 70:30 or 80:20 mix of diploids and tetraploids, with the latter helping to improve dry matter production and utilisation. On wetter soils, persistency needs to be carefully looked at.

Proven performers

The Department of Agriculture carries out extensive evaluations of grass seed and clover varieties and each year publishes a recommended list. A similar system is in place in Northern Ireland. Teagasc’s Pasture Profit Index (PPI) also provides farmers with extensive information to select a grass variety or seed mix that best suits their system. The index is calculated on several factors which are weighted on their importance as follows: persistency (34.3%); quality (20.3%); spring DM yield (15.4%); silage quality (15%); autumn DM yield (9.3%); and mid-season DM yield (5.7%).

When looking at the PPI, predicted production in a sheep context should be fairly well balanced over the season

The full Department recommended list including the PPI can be found at www.agriculture.gov.ie.

In sheep systems where the focus is on grazing early in the year, varieties with intermediate to late heading will also be easier to manage. Varieties selected should be fairly uniform on heading date for ease of management. When looking at the PPI, predicted production in a sheep context should be fairly well balanced over the season.

Farm-specific mixes

Perennial ryegrass is the dominant grass variety selected for use on farms. There are some instances, however, where varieties which have lower performance are deemed more suitable – for example, in wetter marginal soils where there is a lower stocking rate, a grass mix including traditional grass varieties may be a better option. There is also growing interest in mixes with alternative forages. Producers are keeping a close eye on trials in Teagasc Athenry following positive performance in a short-term mixed species trial in UCD.

Clover content

There has been much more research on the role of clover over the last decade, with research also ongoing in Teagasc Athenry.

Dairy systems have found higher levels of nitrogen can be applied than previously thought, although more pressing questions in a sheep context relate to persistency and performance gains.

The most suitable varieties for grazing with sheep are a small-leaf variety with small- and medium-leaf varieties suited to a mixed grazing system. Remember, If weeds such as docks were an issue in the sward before reseeding, it is best to delay and incorporate clover at a later date as many of the best-performing herbicides for controlling docks post-emergence are not clover-safe.

Search is on to save Roscommon breed of sheep

Roscommon Lamb Festival takes take place from Wednesday 1 May to Monday 6 May. One of many events taking place is a wool seminar held in Áras an Chontae (county council building) looking at the future of the wool industry along with information on the Roscommon breed of sheep.

The breed is in danger of extinction, with only a small number of sheep left and the committee is seeking those who think they may have Roscommon ewes to attend or get in touch by contacting Donal Mee on 086-327 6061.

The festival commences with a special sale in Roscommon co-operative mart on Wednesday.

A farm walk held in association with Teagasc will take place on John Curley’s farm in Carntleva, Four Roads, on Thursday 2 May with the Department of Agriculture KT-approved event commencing at 2pm.

Arts and crafts with a strong focus on wool will feature over the weekend, while international sheepdog trials will take place on Sunday 5 May in Walsh’s Field on the Castlerea road out of Roscommon commencing at 9am, while a Roscommon GAA inter-club shearing competition will take place in Loughnaneane Park. There is an extensive lineup of family events and entertainment which can be viewed at www.roscommonlambfestival.com.