When dairy farmers are selecting grass varieties for reseeding they now rank D-value and persistence higher than dry matter, according to a British Seed Houses farmer survey. 

This finding reflects changes in priorities over the last 10 years as the merits of producing more milk from grass have become better understood and the choice of higher quality ryegrass varieties has increased, says the company’s agricultural director Paul Billings.

Somerset dairy farmer Neil Darwent has established a new farmer-led initiative to reclaim the value of milk for UK dairy farmers. Through 'Free Range Dairy', he is seeking to unite thousands of milk producers who still operate a pasture-based system and engage directly with consumers and politicians, begining with a survey of their farming practices.  

Farmers in the UK are currently achieving typical silage densities of 180 - 220kg of dry matter/cu metre, whereas their counterparts in some European countries are achieving densities of up to 320kg of dry matter/cu metre by using new compaction equipment, according to silage experts Kelvin Cave .

“These compaction improvements, which result in higher nutrient retention, better fermentation and utilisation of clamp space and lower fuel consumption, can produce a considerable saving in overall feed costs,” says Kelvin Cave Ltd.

The new BarForage catalogue features two new grass varieties and a red clover that have come onto the 2011/12 SAC Recommended Lists.

These - intermediate tetraploid varieties, Seagoe and Braid result from the Barenbrug and AFBI joint breeding programme.

Seagoe boasts top yields for both cutting and grazing, says Barenbrug. "Its grazing yield is the best available on the SAC list and it has an exceptionally long growing season, being one of the top varieties for spring and autumn growth.