New grass Dundrod joins family of Recommended List varieties from Barenbrug

Diploid perennial ryegrass Dundrod has become the 29th current variety from the Barenbrug breeding programme to be recommended on a UK list. Dundrod will feature in both the RCGL 2019/20 for England and Wales, and the SRUC Grass and Clover Varieties List for Scotland 2019/20.

Dundrod originates from the AFBI programme in Northern Ireland and is the 45th UK-bred variety to be recommended on England and Wales, and Scottish lists, since AFBI’s partnership with Barenbrug commenced in 1991. Other varieties arising from the collaboration have also been recommended in other countries.

With a heading date of 2nd June, Dundrod is classified as a late heading variety. It has a very good 1st cut yield of 107% of control and an overall average cutting yield equal to control. Under grazing management, the total yield is 102% with strong performance from early summer onwards - as you would expect from a later variety. Dundrod’s other strengths are an excellent ground cover and winter hardiness score, and a crown rust resistance score of 7.7. Dundrod will be available in Barforage mixtures in the next few years.

As well as including Dundrod, the new editions of the Recommended lists have elevated Intermediate Diploid, Moira, and Intermediate Tetraploid, Fintona, from provisional varieties to fully recommended varieties. Moira performs well under both silage and grazing management, combining good crown rust resistance with a heading date of 24th May. Fintona remains the highest yielding perennial ryegrass available with a high cutting and grazing yields throughout the year. It has a very good 1st silage cut yield and a heading date of 20th May.

Separately, the 2019 reseeding season sees Barenbrug add two excellent new varieties to its Barforage Mixtures for UK farmers: Gosford, an intermediate diploid showing high quality silage and grazing with impressive early and late season yields; and Ballintoy, a late tetraploid with high yields and quality under both silage and grazing. Both varieties are the results of AFBI and Barenbrug’s UK breeding programme - with all seed grown on British farms. These varieties join other proven varieties such as Moyola, Glenariff, Seagoe, Glenarm, Clanrye and Dundrum.

Mhairi Dawson, Barenbrug Research and Development Manager, said: “It’s exciting to have yet another new grass in our portfolio of Recommended varieties but I am equally proud of the fact that this grass was bred and produced in the UK. It’s great that we can have such a local emphasis to our work, while having the backing of an international research and development programme through the Royal Barenbrug Group. We have some tremendous varieties coming to market in the next few years and I have seen lots more promising breeding material, which will come through during the next decade.”

Pictured left to right: Dr Gillian Young, Grass Breeder at AFBI, and Mhairi Dawson, Barenbrug R&D Manager