LIVESTOCK FARMERS HAVE THEIR PRAYERS ANSWERED!
If you have read through this weeks issue of FARMERS WEEKLY (5th March 2010) you will have seen the very comprehensive article (page 34) about Matrix Enhanced Ryegrass.
The magazine's reporter, Aly Balsom, conducted an in-depth interview with Ian Misselbrook from Limagrain, and the result is a detailed look at what this new concept can do for livestock farmers in the UK. The feature highlights the ability of Matrix enhanced ryegrass (which is a cross between meadow fescue and perennial ryegrass) to grow at much lower temperatures than ordinary perennial ryegrass varieties. As a result this unique grass can deliver an extended grazing season, which says Farmers Weekly, could be the answer to many a farmer's prayer!
In addition to the extended grazing Matrix generates a very dense sward which is as good, if not better, than a diploid perennial. This sward density is obviously an important factor in relation to the extended grazing as it will help reduce poaching.
In the article Mr Misselbrook also stresses that Matrix enhanced ryegrass has the ability to recover quickly and this is something which needs to be taken into consideration in rotational grazing systems.
"With a 21-day conventional rotation, it may be necessary to assess paddocks sooner, because Matrix can recover a lot quicker."
Although Matrix enhanced ryegrass offers a number of major benefits you do have to manage it properly to secure these agronomic and financial advantages. However these management guidelines are certainly not onerous and those farmers in the UK who have been trialling Matrix under commercial conditions have quickly got the measure of how to grow it. In fact, in the Farmers Weekly article there is also a Case Study which centres on the farm at Sparsholt College in Hampshire. Graham Boyt, the Farm Manager at Sparsholt, says that he is "impressed with the results" and he is planning to make much more of Matrix this year.
To help farmers fully exploit Matrix Enhanced Ryegrass we have published a new Technical Guide -you can obtain a copy via our website (www.limagrain.co.uk/home) by going to the 'Forage Grasses' section in the menu and clicking on 'Introduction' in the options. The pdf file can then be opened for review on line or you will be able to save it for future reference.
March 2010
