Six new varieties named on the Recommended Grass and Clover Lists

The 2023/24 Recommended Grass and Clover Lists (RGCL) for England and Wales have now been released. This year it includes one Italian ryegrass and five new perennial ryegrass varieties. 16LP10T01* is now described under its name, Erinvale.

All new perennial grass varieties must have at least six harvest years of independent, rigorous testing at trial sites across the UK before having sufficient data to be considered for addition to the Recommended Lists. Varieties are assessed on total annual yields and seasonal growth under both conservation and simulated grazing management systems. ME yield, ground cover, winter hardiness and disease resistance are also considered. Each variety must show a clear improvement against the varieties already on the list before being granted provisional status. Every new variety will then be reassessed after a further five years in order to be retained and become recommended for general use.

The RGCL is funded by plant breeders through the British Society of Plant Breeders (BSPB), AHDB, British Grassland society (BGS) and Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC).

According to the Forage Crop team at NIAB, who coordinate the RGCL Trials on behalf of the BSPB:

“The RGCL continues to challenge grass and clover breeders to increase production efficiency as well as environmental and economic sustainability. Yield potential and feeding quality are emphasised in order to produce high quantities of highly digestible forage whilst increasing nitrogen use efficiency in a range of conditions across England and Wales.”

“Choosing varieties from the RGCL provides growers with accurate, robust, independent data to select the best available varieties. Growers, alongside their seed merchants, can tailor variety mixtures to best meet the requirements of their specific system, growing conditions and animal requirements leading to feed volume, quality and required timeliness of productive growth matching their need.”

In addition to providing information on each variety, the RGCL supporting information also includes a range of technical information for farmers on how to manage their reseed and maximise the productivity of their swards.

Visit the RGCL webpage to:

• Download the 2023/24 RGCL handbook and the full list for merchants
• Order a hard copy
• Use the online interactive version

Descriptions of new Recommended Grass and Clover List varieties 2023

Italian Ryegrass (Diploid)

Doluga

Excellent total annual yield with good first and second cut ME yield in the first harvest year. Excellent second conservation cut and monthly cut yields in the first harvest year. Good ground covers with limited data showing good winter hardiness. Very good crown rust resistance with limited data showing very good brown rust resistance.

Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass (Diploid)

Goldwell

Good ME yield and mid-season D value under simulated grazing management with excellent late summer and autumn growth. Good third harvest year yield and late season yield under conservation management. Limited data shows good resistance to mildew.

Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass (Tetraploid)

Banbridge

Good yield, ME yield and mid-season D value under simulated grazing with excellent early growth. Excellent conservation yield in the first harvest year along with excellent ME yield, first and fourth cut yields. Limited data shows very good winter hardiness and very good mildew resistance.

Late Perennial Ryegrass (Diploid)

AberSevern

Excellent grazing yield, D value and ME yield under simulated grazing management with excellent growth throughout the season. Excellent first and third harvest year yields under conservation management with excellent ME yield, excellent growth throughout the season and excellent D values. Limited data shows good winter hardiness despite lower ground covers.

Graphic

Excellent spring growth and very good mid-season D value under simulated grazing management. Excellent first conservation cut yield in the first harvest year with excellent total yield under conservation management in the third harvest year. Excellent ground covers under both management regimes. Limited data shows excellent winter hardiness. Good resistance to crown rust.

Bandon

Excellent grazing yield and ME yield under simulated grazing management with excellent growth throughout the season. Excellent first and third harvest year yields under conservation management with excellent ME yield, excellent growth throughout the season and outstanding late summer growth. Excellent first and third harvest year yields and growth throughout the season under conservation management with excellent second cut D values. Limited data shows good winter hardiness despite lower ground covers.