Agricultural Grass Mixtures

Testimonial

“The right mix of grass varieties and clovers, managed correctly – underpins the high quality, cost effective-feed strategy here at Elm House Farm. Hurrell & McLean provide the whole package of seed and management advice, with a tremendous depth of knowledge that has enabled us to push the boundaries of forage production-finishing heifers”

MikePowley -  Elm House Red Herd Owner . 2005 and 2006 Beef Farmer of the Year.

A few facts about reseeded grassland:

Did you know that the introduction of newer agricultural grass seed varieties [improved by modern breeding] can boost the production from a permanent pasture, equivalent to as much as £800 per acre? [over 5 years after reseeding cost]

Newer varieties when freshly seeded, will of course produce immediate benefits with higher yield and improved quality.

Old pasture may have upto 80% weed grasses present after only 5 years, and these simply don’t respond to fertiliser in the same way that the modern improved varieties do. This of course leads to wastage of costly fertiliser.

By contrast a purer sward with improved varieties will not only discourage weed infestation, but more importantly will yield Silage at the rate of around 13-14tons/ha of dry matter – thats the equivalent of 110big bales/ha.

Better Breeding = Better Varieties

Modern seed breeding has recently focused on the quality of forage grasses rather than yield improvements, and we have seen major improvements in Digestibility (D Value).

Different methods of analysing grass quality are also being employed in individual varieties. For example the IGER system tests varieties by measuring the sugar content – leading to many grasses being classed as HSG or High Sugar Grasses.

All in all, the modern approach is to select grasses that are not just higher yielding or more palatable, but grasses that will actually yield more milk or meat.

Bespoke Availability
A large range of grass seed mixtures are available on the website – in addition we are also able to supply specialist mixtures – completely tailored to meet specific circumstances or to customers own requirements.

Hurrells work with grasses that are either NIAB tested or SAC recommended that are tested independently.

Hurrells participate in the SAC grass levy system.

All our mixtures are quality products – we are registered seed merchant with a long history of service to the agricultural community – now we are making that expertise available via the Internet.

All mixtures are mixed on site, by our own staff, according to DEFRA seed regulations.

We stock the seed that we supply – we do not order from a supplier when you place an order with us.