Five New Teagasc Bred Grass Varieties Recommended

23 January 2012

Five new Teagasc bred perennial ryegrass varieties have been added to Grass and Clover Recommended List of Varieties for Ireland for 2012 published by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The varieties have been shown to offer improved yield, quality and persistence characteristics for grass-based production systems in Ireland.

The new Teagasc bred perennial ryegrass varieties are: Genesis (early diploid), Carraig (intermediate tetraploid), Majestic (late diploid), Glenveagh (late diploid) and Kintyre (late tetraploid).

Genesis has the highest spring yield and Glenveagh the highest ground cover of all perennial ryegrass varieties on the Recommended List. Carraig has the highest spring yield and ground cover of all intermediate tetraploid varieties. Kintyre has the highest annual yield, and joint highest autumn yield and digestibility of all late heading varieties. Majestic combines high all round performance in yield and ground cover.

In 2012, farmers may choose among 12 perennial ryegrass and three white clover varieties bred by Teagasc for reseeding. All varieties are included on the Grass and Clover Recommended List Varieties for Ireland for 2012.

The Teagasc forage breeding programme continues to develop improved varieties of grass and clover. A number of other new varieties are currently undergoing seed increase for future release.

The Grass and Clover Recommended List varieties for Ireland for 2012 is available at the Department’s website: http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/publications/2012