At present, the level of reseed taking place on farms in Ireland is far too low and needs to be increased.

WHY RE-SEED

In order for your grassland to be productive, the farm must be comprised of perennial ryegrass dominated swards.

At present, the level of reseed taking place on farms in Ireland is far too low and needs to be increased. In order for your grassland to be productive, the farm must be comprised of perennial ryegrass dominated swards.

Recent Moorepark research shows that old permanent pastures produce, on average, 3 t DM/ha/year less than perennial ryegrass dominated swards. Reseeding is a highly cost effective investment. With regular reseeding the grass growth capacity of the farm can be increased substantially and this in turn means the annual return on investment is large.

  • Increased sward productivity (15 – 25%). Difference between old and new swards is 3t DM/ha – which enables animal numbers to be increased.
  • New grass varieties have excellent spring & autumn growth.
  • Much improved grass quality (feeding value). Moorepark have found that reseeded swards give typically 8% higher milk output per hectare.
  • Helps to increase the number of grazing days.
  • Improved regrowth following grazing/cutting.
  • More Nitrogen responsive swards (+5kg DM/kg N).
  • Reduced overall silage requirement. Also the silage that is made is of better quality & easier to preserve.
  • Eliminate old non-productive paddocks/fields & weed infested paddocks.
  • Increasing the productive capacity of the grazing platform.
  • Saving on meals – good grassland farmers are feeding meals to supplement quality grass in order to optimise animal performance – rather than feeding meals to compensate for poor quality grass.
  • Allows white clover/perennial ryegrass pastures to establish.
  • Increases grass utilisation.

RESEEDING CHECKLIST

  • Identify paddocks for reseeding (poorer performing paddocks, low perennial ryegrass content) – grass measurement can be extremely useful
  • Soil test – we provide full service in this regard
  • Spray off paddocks
  • Method of reseeding – discuss with our team of Agronomists
  • Prepare a good seed bed when cultivating
  • Apply adequate N, P, K and Lime
  • Choose appropriate grass cultivars/mixture (link to pasture profit index 2018)
  • Sowing rate
  • Roll before and after sowing – particularly important if sowing into lay
  • Slugs and other pests
  • Control weeds early after emergence in …. grass at 2-4 leaf stage.
  • Graze short when herbage mass is 1000 – 1200 kg DM/ha to improve tillering.
  • Avoid poaching and over grazing