(Lolium perenne)

Perennial ryegrass thrives on most soil types except very wet soils. The specie is perennial and suitable for both grazing and cutting. Perennial ryegrass has a high sugar content and a high digestibility, and are producing a high yield og a high quality. 

Diploid varieties are distinguished by being more fine-leafed and dense in growth. They are more resistant to damage by grazing cattle. The diploids have a higher content of dry matter.

Tetraploid varieties are typically darker and more broad-leafed, with a higher sugar content, better winter stability, and a more open growth. DLF-TRIFOLIUM has developed tetraploid varieties (e.g. Turandot and Maurice) which have a ground cover that is just as close as that of most diploids, making them particularly suitable for grazing.  

The varieties are classified as early, intermediate and late types according to their heading dates. Early types and types with heavy spring growth are efficient exploiters of winter moisture, but they also have a greater tendency to set less nutritious stems for the rest of the season. The late types, which have a more moderate spring growth, ensure the quality of the feed over a longer period.

Perennial ryegrass is particularly suitable for mixtures with white clover.

In developing varieties of perennial ryegrass, we are focusing on:

• combining late heading with good spring growth
• avoiding stems in the regrowth
• high yield of dry matter with high feed quality, i.e., contents of sugar and protein, and digestibility
• increased resistance to diseases such as rust (Puccinia coronata, Puccinia graminis) and pink snow mould (Fusarium nivale).
• high stability to ensure yields under different forms of stress such as drought, black frost, snow cover and intense grazing.

For additional information on varieties click here