Germinal’s Aber HSG 2 Multi-Cut has been developed to yield large quantities of high-quality leafy silage from frequent cutting during peak grass growth. This brand-new grass seed mixture is comprised exclusively of Aber® High Sugar Grass (HSG) perennial ryegrasses.
Aber HSG 2 offers a balance of diploid and tetraploid varieties plus a tight spread of heading dates. This can yield high D-value and silage yields, not to mention good ground cover and persistency – all while maintaining performance for a period of six to eight years.
Emergence of multi-cut silage
Germinal GB national agricultural sales manager Ben Wixey explains that he is seeing a shift towards earlier silage cuts: “From a recent survey of UK dairy farmers, we are reporting a significant shift towards the more progressive approach of earlier and more frequent cutting. This approach is being referred to as ‘multi-cut’ and we’re leading the way by creating a new version of our Aber HSG 2 specialist cutting mixture.”
Ben also revealed the ideal schedule for Aber HSG 2: “The formulation will work particularly well for those aiming for an early first cut, then taking two subsequent cuts at four-weekly intervals. With this approach, the potential is there to make the main proportion of the season’s grass silage by mid-July, allowing high-quality grazing for the remainder of the growing season.”
He also addressed the efficiency of Germinal’s latest new grass seed mix: “Ultimately, the aim is to make higher quality grass silage, to create the potential to produce more from homegrown forage. This mixture has the ingredients to maximise ME yield per hectare and create a higher energy grass silage to underpin a forage-based approach.”
Germinal Aber HSG
Aber HSG 2 Multi-Cut features in Germinal’s 2018 Forage Seed catalogue. An option is also available to integrate the long-lasting red clover AberClaret and provide extra protein. All Germinal Aber HSG varieties included in the grass seed mixture are high-ranking on the 2018 Recommended Grass and Clover List.