Simple steps to boost grazing system performance

Agrii’s national grass, roots and environmental seeds manager, Adam Simper, says the dry conditions of 2025 laid bare weaknesses in many grass-based systems, forcing producers to dig deep into feed reserves or buy extra forage.

“The lesson from last year is clear,” he said. “Resilience starts with understanding what’s actually growing in the sward and how it’s performing.”

While good grass might look impressive early in the season, Adam warned that green doesn’t always mean generous.

“A field can look lush and full of promise in April, but that doesn’t guarantee productivity. Until you measure it, you won’t know whether it’s truly delivering.” He added that measurement doesn’t have to be complicated and keeping track of the number of trailer loads coming off each field during silage making gives a simple benchmark to work from.

Over time, grass leys can lose productivity more quickly than farmers realise.

“In year one, about 80% of your sward may be made up of the species you’ve sown. By year five, that could be down to 50%, and by year 10, you might be left with just 10% of productive grasses,” Adam said.

Declining soil pH and fertility, tight grazing or cutting, and the use of non-persistent varieties all accelerate the decline and without measuring performance, it’s almost impossible to know which fields are underperforming or where reseeding will pay best.

According to Adam, most modern reseeds, mix diploid and tetraploid perennial ryegrasses to balance yield, ground cover, and seasonal growth.

“Tetraploids root deeper, which can help in drier conditions, while diploids offer denser cover on heavier soils, reducing the risk of poaching.”

He also highlighted the growing value of festuloliums – crosses between ryegrasses and fescues – particularly for drought-prone or free-draining land.

“They combine the feed quality of ryegrass with the stress tolerance of fescue.”

One example is AberRoot, a new festulolium on the Recommended Grass and Clover List for England and Wales.

“AberRoot offers both performance and resilience. It carries the yield and quality of an intermediate tetraploid perennial ryegrass but copes better with dry conditions – a smart choice as drought risk increases.”

Herbal leys can also play a role, though Adam advises careful selection rather than default adoption.

“Grasses, clovers, and herbs like plantain and chicory bring different rooting depths that help sustain growth through dry periods. That variety can help maintain forage availability when ryegrass growth slows – but not all mixes suit intensive dairy or livestock systems, so invest in a good-quality, well-balanced mix.”