Festulolium

[Walterp]

Like ryegrass, only better.

The festulolium was the best test plot at the RWS trials plots last Summer, I thought, and seemed to suit hard sites. But there was very little info on the choices available about the mix'n'match of ryegrass and fescues, although the results might well have justified more publicity.

So is it true that whilst it's caught on in France, it's not catching on in the UK?

 

[Great In Grass]

There is a variety in a number of mixtures I sell, it is persistent, hardy & high yielding.

 

[Barleycorn]

We've been growing it for six years. It works well on dry land, (if there is any this year!)

A bit about varieties on the DLF website

http://www.dlf.com/forage/Species_and_varieties/Festulolium.aspx

 

[neilo]

I've been wondering about this for the last few days too, but Walter beat me to posting. How competitive is it, compared to tetraploid PRG? Is it suitable for slot seeding into old pasture?

It does seem to tick a lot of boxes, although has it perhaps a little lower feed value than some PRG's?

 

[Jackson4]

Yes, lower feed value, on my HF seeds catalogue they show LOFA hybred rygras compared to a tet intermediate perennial rygrass, but like a lot of these companies advertising they show

LOFA having 12% sugar - 21.9 - protein - 11.3 me 71.1 d value and
tet ryegrass 12.1 sugar - 24.8 - protein - 11.4 me 71.9 d value

I believe the figures for LOFA but which tet rygrass did they compare it too! Most tets in independant trials are around same protein (aber grasses lower protein) but 12.5 me and aston princess has 76d value, aston energy 78d value! Even the lowest ones are aroun 72.5 up. Also most tet ryegrass is around 19% sugar, Aber magic 23.3%.. here - http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/media...tions/2012/GrassCloverRecommendedList2012.pdf

Its almost blatant lying to compare your grass to a really sh!t other one. Not to say its not worth a try though, after all some grasses will fair better on some land than on others and its not easy to know till youv'e tried.

What struck me is how little of the perun and LOFA goes into the HF and Farmway mixtures, only 2 or 3kg in 14! Doesn't fill me with confidence.
If you can grow a top hybrid on your land why would you grow a lower feed value festulolium? It will be more drought tolerant but many wont worry about a drought, well not till it stops hailing anyway.
Do festuloliums get clumpy like tall fescues?
In one study Tall fescues did better with less nutrients in the sense of grazing yield... not sure if there was overall more digestibility yield? will see if i can find out.

 

[le bon paysan]

 

[le bon paysan]

The above is Lofa, cocksfoot and clover. I love the stuff. Lofa is the lighter green.

 

[neilo]

Why do you "love the stuff" lbp? In what ways is it better than PRG/clover? Have you tried stitching any in with your Simtech?

 

[Great In Grass]

Is it suitable for slot seeding into old pasture?

I don't know if it would suit your situation neilo, Lofa is included in two standard overseeding mixtures which are both classed as 'cutting'.

 

[le bon paysan]

Why do you "love the stuff" lbp? In what ways is it better than PRG/clover? Have you tried stitching any in with your Simtech?

Because PRG hates 30*+. In some summers we are hitting high temps from early April through to mid September. I am trying to have a range of leys that will mean I always have fodder. Some years everything grows, sometimes not. For a 5 year ley this mix does well here. In mid Wales maybe not! Though have been to Builth for the show when all about is brown.

 

[rob1]

Does it make good horse hay?

 

[Henery]

Using a mix with 20% festulolium , 20% clover rest PRG, we roundup and drill direct with vaderstad, seems to work v v well, second year crops look fabulous now, really performing !

 

[seedman stains]

Because PRG hates 30*+. In some summers we are hitting high temps from early April through to mid September. I am trying to have a range of leys that will mean I always have fodder. Some years everything grows, sometimes not. For a 5 year ley this mix does well here. In mid Wales maybe not! Though have been to Builth for the show when all about is brown.

Roll on the 30s, heating still on in the house !!!!!!!Cows miserable in the fields.

 

[le bon paysan]

Roll on the 30s, heating still on in the house !!!!!!!Cows miserable in the fields.

Same here

 

[pellow]

Does Italian Rye Grass survive the heat when you have a hot summer in France better than a PRG?

 

[le bon paysan]

Does Italian Rye Grass survive the heat when you have a hot summer in France better than a PRG?

NO!

 

[nxy]

I have some Hykor festulolium which is now in its second year. It looks pretty good again this year, better than second year italian ryegrass.
I did not order it, but the supplier ran out of the tall fescue I had ordered and sold me this at the same price, he told me it was another tall fescue! I had never heard of it before but at half the price of hybrid ryegrass a kilo I thought I would give it ago. It is not the same price this year.

http://www.dlf.com/forage/Species_and_varieties/Festulolium/Hykor.aspx?lg=getpdf

 

[Great In Grass]

I inquired about the price for straight festulolium prices last week, quite a bit more than hybrid ryegrass.

DLF seem to classify the four varieties they offer into three categories.

 

[nxy]

I inquired about the price for straight festulolium prices last week, quite a bit more than hybrid ryegrass.

DLF seem to classify the four varieties they offer into three categories.

We paid 1.41 euros a kilo in 2011. This year the only price I have seen for festulolium is 3.95!

 

[Great In Grass]

We paid 1.41 euros a kilo in 2011. This year the only price I have seen for festulolium is 3.95!

It's about 3.95/kg here but in £'s.