Want easy grazing mixtures in 2025?
The reseeding season for 2025 will kick off shortly and now is the ideal time to consider your grass options. DLF have a wide range to pick from with intensive grazers and cut & graze options to multi-species and red clover mixtures available. In this article we will focus on our top grazing mixtures designed to produce the highest quality grass with top utilisation to ensure your farm is profitable and sustainable.
Paddocks for reseeding should always be selected based on performance with those producing the lowest tons of DM a priority. The value of reseeding cannot be overstated, and it is well documented that newly reseeded swards will produce more forage of better quality than older swards and will have a much greater response to N fertiliser application. There is no doubt reseeding will improve forage production and efficiency on farm.
Reseeding trends are changing
Traditionally, grass mixtures contained at least 50% diploid varieties with the balance made of tetraploid varieties and maybe some clover. But time and again research and farmer experience has shown that tetraploid varieties have better quality, better graze-out and grass utilisation, and better animal performance than diploid varieties. Cows prefer to eat tetraploid perennial ryegrass varieties and farmers are now conscious of this when choosing grass mixtures.
The new Grazing Utilisation trait on the Pasture Profit Index (PPI) clearly shows the superior grazing performance of tetraploid varieties compared to diploids and the added value of increasing tetraploid content in grass mixtures. For example, all of the 8 varieties that are rated 5 stars for grazing utilisation are Tetraploids, while only 2 Diploids score more than 3 stars – the average Diploid utilisation rating is only 2 stars!
Every additional 1 ton of DM utilised per hectare can increase profitability by €181 per hectare and reduce GHG emissions intensity by 4%. This is easy to achieve with top rated Tetraploid varieties. DLF are leading the way in the PPI grazing category with Nashota, Xenon and Aspect filling the top 3 places for the Grazing Utilisation trait – each receiving 5 stars for grazing utilisation.
We have even discovered a new grazing Late Tetraploid, Vast in our Partner Farm grazing trial that is available for the first time in mixtures this year. Because of their superior performance in grazing systems, we have increased the % of Tetraploid varieties in all our grazing mixtures in recent years. If you would like to improve grass quality and utilisation on your farm then one of our high Tetraploid grass mixtures is essential.
DLF 4N Grazer
4N Grazer is DLF’s best-selling grass mixture. It is a unique all-Tetraploid, 100% 5-star utilisation varieties mixture designed for maximum grass utilisation.
- Contains only 5-star varieties for maximum utilisation and easy grass management
- All late heading varieties to maintain grass quality well into the growing season
- NxGen Tetraploids give diploid density without reducing graze-out quality
- This mixture is All Killer-No Filler and won’t be beat for quality grazing
DLF Grazer
If you’re not quite ready for an all-Tetraploid mixture then DLF Grazer is our tried and trusted traditional intensive grazer with both Diploid and Tetraploid varieties. DLF Grazer is a specialist grazing mixture based on the latest genetics from DLF.
- A mixture of Diploid and Tetraploid varieties ensuring high yield, quality and excellent graze-out
- Includes Bowie, an ultra-late Diploid with the highest quality score in its class
- Nashota and Anurad are outstanding Tetraploids with excellent quality and utilisation figures
KIWI Grazer
A brand new mixture for this year featuring the top performing variety in our on-farm grazing trials – Vast. If you want better grass than your neighbors, this mix is for you.
- High Tetraploid mixture with only the best grazing varieties to maximize grass utilization and quality
- Nashota and Vast are top grazing Tetraploids with exceptional spring growth scores for early turnout
- Bowie is included to add groundcover and extend grazing quality into the summer
