Forage Seed 2016
Aber High Sugar Grass cutting and grazing mixtures
The importance of heading date
range in grass mixtures
The composition of swards, whether for cutting or grazing, changes
over time, with the relative proportions of sown varieties altering in
response to management and natural environmental pressures. One
of the important factors determining the rate of change is the range
of heading dates in the mixture, with the greater range of heading
dates leading to a greater rate of change – or lower sward stability.
As the graphs summarising some
of the AFBI work illustrate, the
optimum heading date range for
higher performance in grazing swards
is 5-15 days whilst for silage leys it is
5-10 days.
In a grazing situation it tends to
be the later heading varieties that
dominate over earlier heading
varieties whereas in a cutting ley
the dominance occurs the other
way around. In order to achieve the
highest stability in swards, the key
is to avoid too great a range in
heading dates in the mixtures.
Heading date information is available
for all Recommended List varieties,
provided alongside important yield
and quality data in the published
booklets. Average heading date
information is provided by Germinal
for all mixtures, where relevant.
Furthermore, as research led
by Dr Trevor Gilliland when at
the AFBI plant testing station at
Crossnacreevy, Northern Ireland
shows, heading date range within
mixtures also has a direct impact on
the performance of the ley.
Fig 03.
0.15
R2 = 0.917
0.10
0.05
0.00
R2 = 0.957
-0.05
-0.10
-0.15
-0.20
0
5
10
15
20
Heading date range (days)
Total sim. grazing yield
Spring yield
Silage
1
Conservation yield difference (tDM/ha)
Simulated grazing yield difference (tDM/ha)
Effect of mixture
heading range on
performance:
Grazing
0.20
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
-0.2
R2 = 0.9418
-0.4
R2 = 0.9542
-0.6
-0.8
-1
0
5
10
15
20
Heading date range (days)
Total conservation yield
3 silage cuts
Graphs show +/– differences of the mixture yields compared to the average of the component varieties - plus threshold
for heading range advantage.
These graphs show some of the important findings of a research project at AFBI Crossnacreevy, Northern Ireland, which
was examining the dynamic interactions between perennial ryegrass varieties of different heading dates and the effect
on sward production.
Forage Seed 2016
Aber High Sugar Grass cutting and grazing mixtures
Medium Term
Aber HSG 2 Early Cut
Aber HSG 2 Early Cut is a specialist silage mixture for those
aiming to cut a very high quality crop from the end of April to
mid May.
Combining the outstanding hybrid Aber High Sugar Grass AberEcho with
compatible Aber perennial ryegrasses, this mixture delivers quality and
yield and can persist for 3-4 years – twice as long as Italian ryegrass based
swards. Aber HSG 2 Early Cut is a straight grass mixture that will perform
under medium and high levels of nitrogen. AberClaret red clover can be
included, whilst for those seeking longer lasting specialist silage mixtures we
recommend Aber Red 5 HSG.
Including red clover in
your cutting mixtures
The addition of red clover at 3kg/acre within the Aber HSG 2 mixtures will
increase the yield and quality of your silage.
More farmers are choosing to include red clover in their cutting mixture to:
• Increase overall forage production potential
• Improve the protein content of silage
• Reduce protein losses in the clamp
• Benefit from red clover’s ability to contribute over 150 kgN/ha of nitrogen
through fixation
• Improve soil structure and drought tolerance
Fig 04.
Kg/acre
AberHSG 2
Early Cut:
Variety
Type
Heading Date
6
AberTorch
Hybrid Ryegrass (T)
08-May
5
AberEcho HSG
Hybrid Ryegrass (T)
15-May
4
AberEve HSG
Hybrid Ryegrass (T)
22-May
15
Heading date average for Aber HSG 2 Early Cut is 14 May for central Britain.
T = Tetraploid
When cutting for silage, aim to cut 5-10 days before average heading date for optimum quality.
Optimum spread of heading dates within mixtures for grazing and cutting results in better performance of the
leys; see page 5 for further information.
Fig 05.
Aber HSG 2
Early Cut:
Spread of
heading dates
APRIL MAY
27 28 29 30 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
OPTIMAL
CUTTING
WINDOW
Key benefits in summary
• AberHybrid High Sugar Grass content
• Compatible heading date varieties
• Over twice the persistency of Italian ryegrass leys
• Suitable for combination with red clover
• Aber High Sugar Grasses enhance fermentation, especially when red
clover is included
• Very high ME yield
Forage Seed 2016
Aber High Sugar Grass cutting and grazing mixtures
Long Term
Aber HSG 2 Later Cut
Aber HSG 2 Later Cut is a specialist silage mixture for those
aiming to cut a very high quality crop in mid-to-late May.
Combining the outstanding Aber High Sugar Grass AberGain with other
compatible Aber HSG perennial ryegrasses this mixture delivers quality and
yield and can persist for 5 years - twice as long as Italian ryegrass based
swards. Aber HSG 2 Later Cut is a straight grass mixture that will perform
under medium and high levels of nitrogen. AberClaret red clover can be
included, whilst for those seeking longer lasting specialist silage mixtures
we recommend Aber Red 5 HSG.
Including red clover in
your cutting mixtures
Fig 06.
AberHSG 2
Later Cut:
The addition of red clover at 3kg/acre within the Aber HSG 2 mixtures will
increase the yield and quality of your silage.
More farmers are choosing to include red clover in their cutting mixture to:
• Increase overall forage production potential
• Improve the protein content of silage
• Reduce protein losses in the clamp
• Benefit from red clover’s ability to contribute over 150 kgN/ha of nitrogen
through fixation
• Improve soil structure and drought tolerance
Kg/acre
Variety
Type
Heading Date
5
AberGain HSG
Perennial Ryegrass (T) 04-Jun
5
AberPlentiful HSG
Perennial Ryegrass (T) 07-Jun
5
AberChoice HSG
Perennial Ryegrass
10-Jun
15
T = Tetraploid
Heading date average for Aber HSG 2 Early Cut is 7 June for central Britain.
When cutting for silage, aim to cut 5-10 days before average heading date for optimum quality.
Optimum spread of heading dates within mixtures for grazing and cutting results in better performance of the
leys; see page 5 for further information.
Fig 07.
Aber HSG 2
Later Cut:
Spread of
heading dates
MAY JUNE
15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 14 15
OPTIMAL CUTTING
WINDOW
Key benefits in summary
• 100% Aber HSG content
• Compatible heading date varieties
• Over twice the persistency of Italian ryegrass leys
• Suitable for combination with red clover
• Aber High Sugar Grasses enhance fermentation, especially when red
clover is included
Forage Seed 2016
Aber High Sugar Grass cutting and grazing mixtures
Award winning ryegrasses
Celebrated breeding
and performance
The plant breeding programme at IBERS
Aberystwyth University responsible for the
creation and development of Aber High
Sugar Grass has been recognised with a
seventh major award in just 12 years since
varieties first became widely available.
In June 2015, the perennial ryegrass
AberGreen became only the second
forage grass variety to receive the
prestigious Variety Cup from the
National Institute of Agricultural
Botany (NIAB). Awarded only
periodically (since 1986), the NIAB
Variety Cup recognises varieties
from agricultural, horticultural or
ornamental sectors that have
made a major contribution to crop
productivity through improved
quality, disease resistance, grower
return or commercial success.
Outstanding dry matter yield
combined with exceptional D-value
make the intermediate diploid
AberGreen one of the very highest
ranked perennial ryegrasses for
total Metabolisable Energy (ME)
yield. With its higher water soluble
carbohydrate content but without
a proportional increase in protein,
AberGreen exhibits what breeders
describe as close to the optimum
forage protein-to-energy balance for
efficient livestock production.
Forage Seed 2016
Aber High Sugar Grass cutting and grazing mixtures
Long Term
Aber HSG 3 Long Term Grazing
The biggest selling mixture in the Aber HSG range, Aber HSG
3 Long Term Grazing is for cattle or sheep systems aiming to
maximise returns from grazing, whether rotational or set stocked.
Aber HSG 3 is made up exclusively of Aber High Sugar Grass diploid
perennial ryegrasses which have the highest ratings for grazing quality and
yield on the Recommended List. This mixture is unrivalled for persistency
under grazing; managed well it can continue to perform for 7 to 10 years,
giving you maximum yields of the highest quality grazing. AberWolf HSG,
one of the outstanding perennial ryegrasses on the Recommended List,
is included for the first time this year.
Fig 08.
AberHSG 3:
Kg/acre
Variety
Type
Heading Date
3
AberWolf HSG
Perennial Ryegrass
27-May
2
AberMagic HSG
Perennial Ryegrass
28-May
3
AberGreen HSG
Perennial Ryegrass 29-May
3
AberAvon HSG
Perennial Ryegrass 02-Jun
3
AberChoice HSG
Perennial Ryegrass 10-Jun
1
AberPasture
White Clover Blend
15
Heading date average for Aber HSG 3 is 31 May for central Britain.
When cutting for silage, aim to cut 5-10 days before average heading date for optimum quality.
Optimum spread of heading dates within mixtures for grazing and cutting results in better performance of the
leys; see page 5 for further information.
Fig 09.
Aber HSG 3 Long
Term Grazing:
Spread of
heading dates
MAY JUNE
7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Key benefits in summary
• Combines a very good grazing yield for the mixture of 104%
and an outstanding grazing D-value of 77.2
• Outstanding autumn production for the mixture
• 100% Aber HSG diploid perennial ryegrasses
• Very persistent sward with good ‘bottom’
• High palatability and dry matter intakes
• Reduced nitrogen losses to the environment
• Persists for up to ten years
Forage Seed 2016
Aber High Sugar Grass cutting and grazing mixtures
Long Term
Aber HSG 3 + Timothy
Aber HSG 3 Long Term Grazing is the most popular mixture
in the Aber HSG range, being ideally suited to cattle or sheep
grazing where the aim is to maximise returns using either a
rotational or set stocked system.
With all the attributes of Aber HSG 3, this mixture has the addition of
Timothy, a grass that will add ‘bottom’ to the sward and provide greater
tolerance to wet conditions. Presto is chosen for its excellent spring growth
and palatability.
Fig 10.
AberHSG 3
+ Timothy:
Kg/acre
Variety
Type
Heading Date
3
AberWolf HSG
Perennial Ryegrass
27-May
2
AberMagic HSG
Perennial Ryegrass
28-May
3
AberGreen HSG
Perennial Ryegrass
29-May
3
AberAvon HSG
Perennial Ryegrass
02-Jun
2
AberChoice HSG
Perennial Ryegrass
10-Jun
1
Presto
Timothy
1
AberPasture
White Clover Blend
15
Heading date average for Aber HSG + Timothy is 31 May for central Britain.
When cutting for silage, aim to cut 5-10 days before average heading date for optimum quality.
Optimum spread of heading dates within mixtures for grazing and cutting results in better performance of the
leys; see page 5 for further information.
Fig 11.
Aber HSG 3
+ Timothy:
Spread of
heading dates
MAY JUNE
7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Key benefits in summary
• Combines a very good grazing
yield and an outstanding grazing
D-value
• Outstanding autumn production
ensures strong extended grazing
potential
• Very persistent sward with
good ‘bottom’
• High palatability and dry
matter intakes
• Reduced nitrogen losses
to the environment
• Persists for up to ten years
Benefits of Timothy
• Good tolerance of wet conditions
• Excellent spring growth
• High palatability
• Adds extra ‘bottom’ to swards
to reduce the impact of poaching
Forage Seed 2016
Aber High Sugar Grass cutting and grazing mixtures
Long Term
Aber HSG 3 Long Term Grazing
The biggest selling mixture in the Aber HSG range, Aber HSG
3 Long Term Grazing is for cattle or sheep systems aiming to
maximise returns from grazing, whether rotational or set stocked.
Aber HSG 3 is made up exclusively of Aber High Sugar Grass diploid
perennial ryegrasses which have the highest ratings for grazing quality and
yield on the Recommended List. This mixture is unrivalled for persistency
under grazing; managed well it can continue to perform for 7 to 10 years,
giving you maximum yields of the highest quality grazing. AberWolf HSG,
one of the outstanding perennial ryegrasses on the Recommended List,
is included for the first time this year.
Fig 08.
AberHSG 3:
Kg/acre
Variety
Type
Heading Date
3
AberWolf HSG
Perennial Ryegrass
27-May
2
AberMagic HSG
Perennial Ryegrass
28-May
3
AberGreen HSG
Perennial Ryegrass 29-May
3
AberAvon HSG
Perennial Ryegrass 02-Jun
3
AberChoice HSG
Perennial Ryegrass 10-Jun
1
AberPasture
White Clover Blend
15
Heading date average for Aber HSG 3 is 31 May for central Britain.
When cutting for silage, aim to cut 5-10 days before average heading date for optimum quality.
Optimum spread of heading dates within mixtures for grazing and cutting results in better performance of the
leys; see page 5 for further information.
Fig 09.
Aber HSG 3 Long
Term Grazing:
Spread of
heading dates
MAY JUNE
7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Key benefits in summary
• Combines a very good grazing yield for the mixture of 104%
and an outstanding grazing D-value of 77.2
• Outstanding autumn production for the mixture
• 100% Aber HSG diploid perennial ryegrasses
• Very persistent sward with good ‘bottom’
• High palatability and dry matter intakes
• Reduced nitrogen losses to the environment
• Persists for up to ten years