Westerwolds the Fast Forage
Isn’t it strange how things change? Only a decade ago westerwolds ryegrass was considered to be a poor quality, emergency crop with little appeal to UK farmers. Now however, the westerwolds acreage is increasing, due mainly to the introduction of good quality new strains. The Editor looks at the reasons for its revival and how it should be utilised on farms.
History
Westerwolds has been around for a long time. It was during the 1970s and 1980s that the popularity of westerwolds declined. The main reasons were lack of winter hardiness and poor forage quality, which was mainly associated with cheap New Zealand strains imported at the time. Westerwolds was considered a ‘fire engine’ crop, which would give forage in a short time and because of its lack of winter hardiness, was most often sown in the spring. It was then cropped during the summer before ploughing in the autumn. Since those days plant breeders have been working to improve the weaknesses associated with the crop. At the forefront of this work has been DSV, a farmer owned seed breeding company based in Germany. Varieties from their breeding programme are now being used in the UK with impressive results.
The Hot Summers
Many UK farmers desperate for forage tried westerwolds during the dry years of 1995 and 1996 when many grass leys were badly damaged and silage stocks were at low levels. The new varieties of westerwolds were sown during the spring and autumn and proved very successful. The crops provided quick bulk and reports of forage quality similar to that of Italian ryegrass.
Typical analysis of Lifloria westerwolds
ME: 10.5
Crude protein: 14%
Annual yield: 14t DM/hectare
In addition to the improvement in forage quality the other advantage of the new strains was additional winter hardiness. I can remember visiting northern Germany in the winter of 1993. The temperatures in that region were particularly low and clearly demonstrated a tolerance to harsh conditions not previously seen with westerwolds. If it succeeded there, surely it would grow in the UK. Five years on, it has proved effective. This is not to say that we won’t have a severe winter in the future that will be testing but in recent years autumn sown westerwolds has been successful.
How to Use
Westerwolds is ideal for silage production. It has growth habit similar to Italian ryegrass. For silage, autumn sown crops are sown during August and September. A new ley, sown at 14kgs per acre, usually establishes quickly. If the crop becomes forward it is a good policy to ‘tidy up’ before the onset of winter by grazing.
Once the spring arrives westerwolds grows rapidly and can provide a useful early bite in March. Alternatively, it can be bulked for silage and a cut taken in mid April. It will require adequate supplies of nitrogen. Each cut will remove 80 units per acre. Early cuts just prior to heading will give the highest D-values and cuts at this stage will ensure re-growth. Remember it is an annual so if it seeds it will not re-grow.
The second cut of silage will be around five or six weeks later and should coincide with traditional first cut timing. It will continue to grow through the summer and typically it is cut 3 or 4 times. By the end of the summer it will be ready for the plough.
Pitfall or Pit Full
Growers who have not grown westerwolds before are likely to be impressed with the quantity of forage available from the crop. However, there is one risk which must be taken into account. Autumn sown westerwolds is vulnerable to frit fly attack. The larvae of the adult fly is active during late September and can have devastating affects when seed is sown at this time. Attacks are most common in the south and east of England, especially where grass was the previous crop. Ploughing reduces the risk as it physically destroys the pest. Control can also be achieved with ‘Dursban4’ or ‘Spannit’ if absolutely necessary. This is best applied 10 days after sowing.
Choice of Variety
The most popular strain of westerwolds has been Lifloria. This variety appears to meet the UK farmers’ requirements. It will provide good forage quality and is sufficiently winter hardy to rely on in most winters. In exposed areas it would be sensible to sow half westerwolds and half Italian ryegrass to insure against the risk of winter failure. Another variety called Liquattro from the same breeding programme in Germany is due to come onto the market this year. Cotswold Seeds will evaluate this on farm this year.
Conclusion
Westerwolds looks good as an alternative to longer term silage leys as it offers faster forage and higher yields over a shorter period. This has to be offset against the additional cost of re-seeding more frequently but with over 10,000 acres sown last year alone it will be interesting to see how many more farmers use this species.
Forage Matters Summer 1999
- by Ian Wilkinson of Cotswold Seeds
