“A significant percentage of livestock farmers in the UK have seen early season grass growth being severely hampered by the spring’s cold and exceptionally dry conditions,” explains Simon Montgomery, Technical Lead for ProCam’s Field Options Performance Seeds. “As such, forage stocks are forecast to be in short supply, with farmers advised to take appropriate action to rejuvenate next year’s swards.”

The lack of rain in March and April, combined with cold soils, meant first-cut silage yields were estimated to be down by as much as 30% in the worst affected regions, with the damage caused by the dry conditions not just confined to early season productivity: “Swards which were impacted by the drought could struggle to recover, with any bare patches caused by a lack of moisture and/or poaching over the wet winter providing an easy entry for troublesome weeds such as docks and thistles.”

Simon therefore advises growers to assess the health and vitality of their swards and to put plans in place either to bolster existing swards by overseeding, or, in more severe cases, to carry out a full reseed.

“Reseeding creates an opportunity to improve the quality and yield of grassland swards and to enhance livestock performance through higher feed intakes,” Simon explains. “A young, well-managed grassland ley can produce 13.5t DM/ha at an energy content of 12.0-12.5ME. In comparison, an average or ageing sward will produce just 7.0t DM/ha at 10.8ME, equating to a loss of 93,150MJ/ha.

“The higher yield potential of fresh swards enables stocking densities to be increased and offsets the need for bought-in feed. Healthier, more productive swards will also support an extended grazing season, with an extra 30 days at grass saving an estimated £3,725 per 100 cows in housing costs alone.”

Simon recommends that the best time to assess sward health is straight after second or third-cut silage has been taken.

“Inspecting swards immediately after silage has been harvested makes it easier to determine how patchy or gappy the sward has become,” Simon explains. He also cautions that it pays to assess sward coverage sooner rather than later so that time doesn’t slip away during the busy summer period when other field operations take priority.

“Leaving it to the last minute to decide which fields need to be reinvigorated isn’t the best way forward, especially as so many growers will be in the same boat. It’s therefore better to get ahead of the rush for seed and contractors so that everything is in place and ready to go when conditions are right. It’s better to be looking at seed in the shed than it is to be looking for seed at the eleventh hour.”

In terms of which species to plant, Simon explains that the final decision will be dictated by the sward’s end use, and local conditions: “Westerwolds and Italian Ryegrasses are an obvious choice thanks to their rapid establishment vigour and ability to produce large quantities of biomass. But this year’s dry conditions have clearly illustrated that hybrid ryegrasses which contain Italian and Perennial Ryegrass genetics are better suited in periods of drought thanks to their ability to put down an extensive root structure which enables them to scavenge moisture and nutrients from deeper within the soil profile.

“The Field Options range of Hybrid 3×3 mixtures, which includes variations with or without clover, is designed to produce three big cuts of silage per year for three years by combining hybrid ryegrasses selected for their ability to produce a high yield, high metabolisable (ME) content and persistence with complementary perennial ryegrasses. Compared to straight Italian Ryegrass swards, these mixtures can produce an additional >1.0Mj/kg dry matter in mid-season cuts and produce excellent grazing in the spring and autumn, making them an ideal choice in a wide range of scenarios.”

Simon concludes by explaining that reseeding also provides an opportunity to introduce new species, such as clover, or herbal options such as chicory and plantain, which can reduce nutrient inputs and increase protein production. “Using a proven mixture of high-quality seed stocks, such as those independently tested under the Field Options umbrella, will enhance germination rates and produce a more vigorous sward, quickly helping to alleviate any impending forage shortages.”