High Sugar Grasses
Grass is the mainstay of Irish dairy, beef and lamb production, viewed by farmers and consumers alike as the most natural feed for ruminants. However, agriculture has entered a new era in which efficient, home grown forage production must go hand in hand with environment considerations, eg Nitrate regulations, REPS etc. High Sugar Grass Varieties, bred by the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, Wales, are a new generation of grasses designed to meet these needs in the 21st century.The potential benefits of higher quality forage for sustainable livestock production were recognised by IGER scientists more than twenty years ago. They discovered that grasses with high levels of water soluble carbohydrates (sugar) were used efficiently by livestock and, as a result they began to develop ryegrasses with this improved quality characteristic.
The challenge has been to achieve significant improvements in grass quality whilst continuing to increase yield, palatability and disease resistance and all other agronomic characteristics. This has been achieved, as the results of many IGER trials show- including animal performance trials that demonstrate the potential for increased milk and meat production,
The perennial ryegrass varieties Aberavon. Aberstar, Aberdart, Aberzest and hybrids Aberecho, Aberexel and Aberlinnet already feature strongly in many Recommended Lists (NIAB, Northern Ireland, Scottish) and have marked the start of an exciting new era in grassland production.
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