SQUIRE PLUS CHICORY medium term grass seed mix
3 year red clover and chicory grass mix for high energy silage and aftermath grazing
If you want to finish lambs faster or cut a high protein silage, Squire will suit your needs. Hybrid ryegrasses are contained in this mix, these are quick to establish, have high yields, high water soluble carbohydrate (sugar) contents and can last up to four years.
The variety AberEcho is used because it is the highest yielding hybrid ryegrass on the Recommended List giving excellent grass quality. Its WSC (sugar) levels are significantly greater even than AberDart.
The red clover yields as much dry matter as the grasses and adds protein to the mix; with Chicory added to the sward you have an excellent lamb finishing ley with the ability of adding 0.3-0.4kg/dlwg. Graze chicory from about 8 weeks after drilling or 25-30cm tall; graze hard in spring to prevent plant flowering, preferably using a strip grazing or rotation method until crop is 2 inches tall. Avoid hard grazing after flowering or during wet conditions to prevent crown damage and ensure longevity of the crop.
Unlike white clover, when grazing red clover great care must be taken to prevent damage to the plant crown during wetter winter months; overgrazing in the winter can kill red clover plants as moisture gets into the damaged crown and causes it to rot.
Squire grass seed mix is ideal for 2-3 silage cuts with 2-3% higher protein content than a no-clover silage.