Species: Lolium x boucheanum
Officially listed in: England & Wales
Heading dates: England & Wales 26th May
Ploidy: Diploid
Bred in: Holland
Most suited to: Any mixture for a medium term rotation
Digestibility
Barsilo is a variety which provides good quality whether under silage management or under grazing. Being higher in Italian parentage, Barsilo will benefit from careful attention to growth stage to optimise yield and quality, particularly at second cut.
Other Attributes
Barsilo has a moderate disease resistance profile: Crown Rust (4.5), Brown Rust (3.9) and Mildew (7.2).
Hybrid ryegrasses grow to 6°C soil temperature and so extend the growing season, making them ideal for winter keep for sheep.
Being a diploid, you should expect an average of 450,000 seeds per kilogram and a slightly more prostrate growth habit than diploid counterparts. Barsilo will benefit from grazing, particularly in the first 12 months to encourage tillering.
Before recommendation, Barsilo has been extensively trialled across several locations in the United Kingdom to gather data on its performance in multiple climatic conditions.
Barsilo was bred in Holland at the Barenbrug breeding station at Wolfheze by Marcel van Nes.
HYBRID RYEGRASS
DESCRIPTION:
The hybrid ryegrass is a cross between the Italian and perennial forms of ryegrass and shares characteristics of both.
The dominant parent determines how the variety performs in the field. Some hybrids express the characteristics of the Italian parent very strongly, producing very high yields of up to 20 tonnes per hectare. Other hybrids, express the characteristics of the perennial parent and are very persistent.
Characterised as a rapid growing variety lasting from 1-5 years or longer depending on summer conditions and endophyte status.
Hybrids typically yield 10% more than PRG and consistently produce high yields over 4-5 years and show rapid recovery after cutting.