Forage rye for grazing

[The Ruminant]

I'm a forage rye novice and looking for advice on varieties to graze (winter / early spring). Humboldt is the go-to varierty, I'm told, but I understand it's out of stock.

I've been offered Dukato, which is listed as a 'population rye', the info sheet gives no details on its grazing potential or early growth. The other varieties I can get hold of include Edmondo and Helltop, neither of which mention grazing potential. All info sheets focus on grain yield etc.

Anyone any experience of 'forage' ryes and are some varieties better than others? Any views on those listed above? Thanks

 

[Derrick Hughes]

My,advice for what its worth use Westerwolds, Rye seed is double the price
I can pm you a price on Rye Seed if thats OK

We use Protector its one of the leading varieties at the moment.
Protector will also grow at temperatures where other types of rye have already stoped their growth

AD varieties they are very low yielding for forage.
Sow in mid-September for best results.
We are waiting for new crop seed.

Sow at 60-70 kilo per acre,

 

[Tim W]

It's hard to justify the cost of Rye I think
If I get a chance to put that type of crop in I just use cleanings from the grain cleaner/dryer
Usually has oats, wheat, barley,rye, triticale,peas & beans in but it's cheap & better value than a bought in seed

 

[som farmer]

My,advice for what its worth use Westerwolds, Rye seed is double the price
I can pm you a price on Rye Seed if thats OK

We use Protector its one of the leading varieties at the moment.
Protector will also grow at temperatures where other types of rye have already stoped their growth

AD varieties they are very low yielding for forage.
Sow in mid-September for best results.
We are waiting for new crop seed.

Sow at 60-70 kilo per acre,

the ad varieties, are hybrid, and produce huge crops, up to 18/20 tons ac, the humbolt types, which we grew for early bite, gave naff all milk, and, by the end of the field, to tall to feed !

 

[organicguy]

We turned out onto Humbolt spring 2019 in jan and then full time in Feb expecting milk to go up but no difference. We did however save a significant amount of silage. Milk only jumped up when we turned onto grazing leys in March so i guess that means it only has the feed value of silage.

 

[som farmer]

we bought some some rye straw in the swathe one year, never, ever again, awful to bale, 5 foot long, and even worse to spread. Just a warning to anybody thinking about it !!!!

 

[Derrick Hughes]

,

 

[upnortheast]

Tried it once. Horrible stuff to manage grazing. It`s at a nice stage to graze for about 7 days, you turn your back & suddenly it`s gone to head & is 6 ft tall. with the feed value of a small tree.
Westerwolds or hybred ryegrass much better IMO

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Hybrid Ryegrass would be to expensive and a waste to rip up in the spring though

 

[Barleycorn]

Western seeds still have Humboldt I think

 

[nails]

I'm a forage rye novice and looking for advice on varieties to graze (winter / early spring). Humboldt is the go-to varierty, I'm told, but I understand it's out of stock.

I've been offered Dukato, which is listed as a 'population rye', the info sheet gives no details on its grazing potential or early growth. The other varieties I can get hold of include Edmondo and Helltop, neither of which mention grazing potential. All info sheets focus on grain yield etc.

Anyone any experience of 'forage' ryes and are some varieties better than others? Any views on those listed above? Thanks

Have grown Forage rye for a few years , normally Humbolt. had something else last year but i forget the name. I would say it is a good and easy crop to grow ,wet or dry as it puts down deep roots and scavenges nitrogen. Once it starts to grow it goes like buggery so you need to keep on top of it although it makes fairish silage for sucklers if it gets away. You can sow a bit of something like westerwold with it and that well come on for a second bite.
I have sown Forage Rye in early November and been strip grazing mid march.