The lack of persistance seen in some new ryegrass cultivars is the result of an over emphasis on drymatter yield in their breeding.  "Farmers are saying the new grasses don't last like the old varieties and I agree that it appears some seed companies have tried to further increase drymatter yield for a marketing edge but have not managed to retain persistency traits," says David Kerr of Germinal Holdings NZ Ltd.  Mr. Kerr said the Aber High Sugar Grasses have proven to be reliable and are the result of a 30 year programme where the focus is on herbage quality, drymatter yield and high levels of persistency.

He recently visited a sheep and beef farm where AberDart (used in SucraSEED) is seven years old and despite the climate, kikuyu and insect challenges the HSG pastures have grown strongly through a third consecutive drought.  Mr. Kerr said the HSG's dense roots and numerous tillers were the product of breeding for persistency against frost, heat, drought, UV light, numerous fungal, viral and bacterial pathogens, a wide range of invertebrate pests and hard grazing.

It can blow from every direction and we can still miss the rain.  The ground freezes in winter and the hills rise from 600 metres to 1,000 metres above sea level.  There is a real determination to improve pastures.  Different ryegrass cultivars have been tried for more intensive grazing and so far the HSGs with clover initially sown into the 10ha paddock is showing the most promise.  We had 330 small lambs on the HSGs after weaning and then calves again three weeks later and they had all blown out incredibly.  The lambs went in at 18-22kgs and eight weeks later we took the tops out of them at 36kgs, so they did put on incredible growth and almost caught up with the middle mob.  If you can finish them on grass and don't need to feed them on a short-term forage crop then that's a real cost saving.

Robert Hobson, Nimrod Farms NZ

Ewe hoggets recently sold at live-weights above 48kg after averaging an increase of 5kg in just 12 days on HSGs with clover - a growth rate equivalent to 400 gms a day that matches the best expected of lambs on any farm. 

'That's after the worst winter we have seen here.  We had snow over the top of fences.  Some may think we are not capable of growing heavyweight lambs up here but we are doing it.  A further bonus in HSG pasture is its dense growth crowding out thistle and browntop grass regrowth.'

David Schrader, Annett Grain and Seed Consultant

In Spring (late April) 2008 we planted 15 acres of SucraSEED Beef Bank on a south-east facing slope, with heavy clay soils.  Prior to this we had raised and finished our beef, Angus crosses, on a mix of Fescue, Orchardgrass, Reed Canarygrass, and Italian Ryegrass pastures.

 

In Late August of 2008 we moved a group of 12 steers - weighing an average of 320 lbs - onto this new seeding.  Using a monthly weighing of these animals, by early September we noticed that we were achieving ADG's of between 2.28 - 3.0 lbs per animal per day.  On the previous mixture we had seldom 'topped' 2.22 - 2.25 lbs.  The impressive gains of our beef steers on the SucraSEED mix convinced us to go ahead and plant more of this for the 2009 season.  Over the next two seasons we will extend these grazing/hay plantings of Beef Bank to an extra 100 acres.  In addition we have started using Pasture Sweet'ner in our old pastures, and although measurements have not yet started since they were only added in June 2009, we have 'Visually' noticed a thickening of the original stands.

 

Without a doubt I'd highly recommend the SucraSEED Beef Bank for beef producers, especially those focused on being Grass Farmers first and Cattle Farmers second.  High daily gains are crucial for the success of any commercial beef operation and Beef Bank meet these needs admirably.

 

Marco Turco PhD

Manzini Farm, LLC

Keesville, NY 

THIS GRASS DRAWS ANIMALS LIKE A MAGNET!

 

Rob M. - Roy, WA

Don Wilkinsen of Pasture Proper, a grass fed co-op in Idaho, has been impressed with root system of the HSGs.  The SucraSEED fields were the first to green up coming out of winter, and the livestock sure show a preference for it.  Photo was takenFebruary '09 on Bill Gale's farm.

AberDart HSG has survived for three years now in the upper peninsula of Michigan!  It appears that the key to winter survival is to maintain a minimum of 3 inches of stubble heading into winter and then make sure to wait a little while after Spring growth begins before grazing.  It seems that the HSG varieties are one of the first grasses to start growing and as a result people turn the animals in to graze before the plant has been able to restore the carbs consumed over the winter. 

 

"I rated the High Sugar Ryegrass stands today and looks pretty good.  I was surprised to see these High Sugar Perennial Ryegrasses survived the third winter here in the UP.  Amazing!"

 

Dr. Doo-Hong Min

Michigan State University

 

I planted an 11 1/2 acre Beef Bank pasture September '08, it was a shabby field, not good soil and lots of weeds. I don't use herbicides, so I disked it over and over (11 times I think) to kill the vegetation.  I worked the soil without any chemicals other than a starter fertilizer.

 

We had a horrible storm on May 8, 2009 with 106 mph winds that tore up everything in three counties.  Did not affect the Beef Bank at all, but tore up our barn.  It would be nice to put up some Beef Bank hay, but not 'til the barn is fixed.  This spring was so wet nobody has harvested any hay, it's impossible.  Since I can't put up hay, and I have no fencing for grazing, I lifted my Bush Hog mower to about as high as it goes (1 foot) and mowed the field.  I still have the option of a hay harvest soon.

 

I threw these two heifers some fresh Beef Bank cutlets on bare ground, and they really loved it - ate it all up!  Treats!

 

John Steffens

Cherry Valley Farm

Thomsonville, IL

I planted Beef Bank strips in my pastures last Fall so I could watch how it performed next to what I was currently using (Potomac Orchardgrass & Red Clover).  I wanted to see if it was really as good as they said it was in the ads.  I'm running 30 cattle and over 300 sheep using the Management Intensive Grazing system.  I know my fields.  Not only did the Beef Bank do everything they said it would, my livestock go straight for it!  I can definitely see a preference for it, and despite the extra grazing pressure those strips are darker green and more lush, recovering faster than my Orchardgrass/Red Clover.  This Spring I won't be wasting any time, I'll be planting more SucraSEED!

 

Dan Fennell - Scottsburg, IN

About three years ago we decided to rotate out a portion of pasture each year and plant new grass.  We read about Beef Bank and thought it sounded like a good mix.  Well, this is third year for planting Beef Bank.  We LOVE it and so do our spoiled cows!  We raise Registered Angus, and also have a few spoiled pasture pets.  Beef Bank is definitely the first choice for eats for all of them.  Last summer we cut the new seeding for hay.  Results - cows are pig fat this Spring!!

 

Judy H - Walla Walla, WA 

The cattle seem to really like it.  I planted a 2 acre test pasture across from my improved Tall Fescue pasture to give them the option and see what would happen.  They stay in the Beef Bank and have mowed it down to almost nothing.  They are just now starting to move into the tall fescue, only because they ate everything they could of the Beef Bank.  I'll definitely be planting more. 

Tim S - Natural Bridge, VA