Grass and Fodder Crops Grass and Fodder Crops ... - dlf-trifolium

Grass and Fodder Crops 

I N T R O D U C T I O N 

Although HF Seeds can trace its roots back 

for over a century, the actual HF brand was 

first introduced to Scottish farmers in the 

1960’s. Originally launched as ‘Hi-Farming’ 

and abbreviated over the years, HF has 

earned its rightful place as one of the UK’s 

leading seed brands and is synonymous with 

the highest seed quality, the very best 

varieties and unrivalled performance in 

terms of productive and palatable grass swards. 

This strong position and technical approach transfers 

directly to HF Seeds and throughout its long history 

the HF brand has always been at the forefront of 

developments in grass seed technology. Whether it is 

the introduction of a new and improved variety, the 

development of a new mixture to meet a specific 

need or simply widening the availability of organic 

grass seed, HF’s reputation for turning innovation into 

sound agricultural practice is second to none. 

The HF total quality philosophy goes much further than just varieties 

and mixture trials however, and extends as far as the farm gate and 

the end user. All HF products are backed by a country-wide 

network of in-house seed specialists and experienced distributors 

who are capable of offering technical help and advice on all aspects 

of mixture selection and establishment. 

HF mixtures transformed grass yields when first introduced in the late 1960’s and are 

still amongst the highest yielding grass mixtures available today. 

Now part of DLF Trifolium, one of the world’s largest grass seed 

companies, HF Seeds has access to greater technical and commercial 

resources than ever before. Based in Denmark, where the coastal 

climate is particularly well suited to producing grass seed, DLF 

Trifolium has over 100 years experience in plant breeding and seed 

production and currently has Europe’s largest research and 

development programme to breed new and improved grass and 

clover varieties. This commitment to producing new genetic 

material to meet the challenges of modern agriculture has resulted 

in DLF Trifolium having significantly more grass and clover varieties 

on UK Recommended Lists than any of its competitors. 

Modern trialling techniques and hi-tech machinery ensure that both yield and forage 

quality are maintained in HF mixtures. 

Contents 

3 Mixture Design 

4 Seed Quality 

5 Spring v Summer Reseed 

6-8 The Clover Story 

9 Advanced Grasses TM 

10 Triple Crown 

11-12 HF Varieties 

14-20 The Mixtures 

21-23 Overseeding 

24-25 High Clover Mixtures 

26-27 Organics 

28-30 Environmental Mixtures 

31-33 Root and Fodder Crops 

34-35 Game Crops 

13 Mixture Selector 

2


M I X T U R E D E S I G N 

Good grass mixture design begins with the assessment of 

individual variety characteristics and then uses this 

information to combine the mixture components in 

different proportions to produce the best possible 

mixture for the intended purpose of the final sward. 

The characteristics required in a sward and the emphasis placed 

upon them, depend entirely on the use to which the sward will be 

put. For example the early bite required for an early lambing flock 

will be a positive disadvantage for dairy turnout in late April and the 

open sward the organic farmer needs for clover survival will not suit 

intensive grazing on wet, heavy land. Many of the different sward 

characteristics included in HF design are listed below 

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Total annual and seasonal yield 

Maturity and heading date 

Sward purpose and management regime 

The need for early spring growth 

Overall sugar yield 

Forage quality and digestibility 

Animal intake factors including sward structure 

and palatability 

Clover content 

Disease resistance 

Sward density 

Persistency 

Winter hardiness 

Although many of the above criteria are included to meet specific 

farm enterprises or circumstances and are not applicable in every 

case, there is little doubt that with escalating input prices creating the 

need for even greater self-sufficiency, total yield will be of paramount 

importance on almost every farm. Maximising grass yields always has 

been and continues to be, a mainstay of HF mixture design and 

independent assessment of the annual yields of HF varieties has 

shown that yield benefits of around 5% are perfectly achievable by 

using the best varieties. Simple arithmetic using 2012 prices can 

convert this yield benefit into a clear and substantial financial gain of 

at least £7 per acre per year for each 1% of additional yield.Thus the 

5% yield benefit shown by HF varieties over other lower yielding 

varieties, translates into a financial gain of around £35 per acre per 

year or £175 over the life of a five year ley. 

Although yield is of crucial importance the achievement of top 

quality and palatable forage also makes a huge difference to animal 

performance. Consequently HF mixture design must also take into 

account the many factors which ultimately affect forage quality 

ranging from D-value and growth habit right through to sugar 

content and disease resistance. 

The benefit of high D-value forage is clearly recognised by most 

farmers and independent trials have shown that on average, each 

additional unit of D-value produces an extra 1.5% more milk, 5% 

extra LWG in beef cattle and up to 10% extra LWG in sheep. In 

financial terms these benefits translate into each additional unit of 

D-value being worth £9 per acre per year in terms of the 

additional meat or milk produced. HF’s emphasis on quality and 

the use of the highest D-value varieties ensures excellent digestibility 

of the forage in the final sward and improved animal performance as 

a result. 

Many other factors must be included in the assessment of overall 

forage quality and results of pioneering trial work on rumen health 

and performance have shown that the huge emphasis placed on 

sugar content in recent years and in particular on Water Soluble 

Carbohydrate (WSC), may not provide the full picture. 

Clearly, a high sugar content is important as it influences forage 

palatability and consequently animal intake. It also allows rapid 

fermentation in the silage pit thereby enhancing the quality and 

feeding value of the conserved crop.The latest trial work, however, 

has shown that it is the form in which the sugar occurs in the forage 

that is important and that slowly digestible carbohydrates are much 

more valuable to rumen health and function than quickly digested 

Water Soluble Carbohydrates. Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF) is 

the slowly digestible part of carbohydrates in plants and there is 

clear evidence that a high NDF content in forage stimulates the 

rumen function, stabilises pH and has a beneficial effect on the 

digestion process. 

Armed with this new nutritional 

information on feed performance and 

how it affects the rumen, coupled with 

detailed knowledge about the yields and 

the other important agronomic 

characters of individual grass varieties, HF 

Seeds was able to introduce a brand new 

quality index system in 2011 called 

TRIPLE CROWN and a further year’s 

data has consolidated the value of this 

unique and advanced assessment system. The TRIPLE CROWN 

quality assessment technique is explained in more detail on page 10 

but it indicates top variety scores in all the important characters 

which influence animal performance. 

‘With extensive grass based livestock 

enterprises of dairy, beef and sheep, Glenapp 

Estate maximises production from home grown 

forage thus reducing the requirement for 

purchased feed. Consequently we ask a lot of 

our grass throughout the grazing season. With 

the assistance of HF Seeds we specifically 

developed a high clover mix to maximise yields 

and maintain grass quality whilst extending the 

grazing season at both ends of the year. The mixture establishes well, 

increases the number grazing days and consistently produces a lot of 

top quality grass under intensive grazing management. To date, we are 

delighted with the results.’ 

Charlie Russell, Manager and 2011 Farmer’s Weekly Farmer of the Year, 

Glenapp Estate, Ballantrae, Ayrshire (Seed supplied by Nutriscot Ltd) 

3


S E E D Q U A L I T Y 

There are two certification standards for all species of 

agricultural seed within the UK. 

The lowest level is EU certification which is statutory throughout 

the whole of the European Union and which guarantees minimum 

quality standards for germination and purity below which seed 

cannot be sold.The second standard, which is unique to the UK, is 

HVS or Higher Voluntary Standard:‘Higher’ because it is higher than 

EU and ‘Voluntary’ as it is not compulsory and is entirely at the 

discretion of the seed merchant. The level at which a grass seed 

mixture is certified can only be ascertained by the information on 

the official label. If the label does not show the HVS emblem it 

means that the seed is only certified to the EU Minimum standard. 

Unfortunately for the farmer as most of the grass seed sold in the 

UK is produced in Europe to the EU Minimum standard, the higher 

quality standards of HVS are difficult to find. Even in a normal year 

where the seed supply is good, an estimated 70% of grass mixtures 

are supplied at EU Minimum standard with only 30% at the Higher 

Quality Standard. 

Be sure to look for the HVS symbol on the official label 

Germination is one of the main criteria on which the UK seed certification schemes are based but the minimum levels required are 

surprisingly low. The HF minimum germination standard for Perennial Ryegrass and Timothy is 10% higher than both EU and HVS and 

as shown in the table below, the actual germination achieved across all HF mixtures in 2011 resulted in around 14% more live seed 

in every bag producing better establishment and denser, more productive swards. 

SPECIES EU HVS HF HF BENEFIT 

MINIMUM MINIMUM MINIMUM ACTUAL 2011 OF HF 

GERMINATION GERMINATION GERMINATION GERMINATION 

STANDARD STANDARD STANDARD 

Italian Ryegrass 75% 75% 90% 93.7% 18.7% 

Perennial Ryegrass 80% 80% 90% 94.1% 14.1% 

Timothy 80% 80% 90% 93.2% 13.2% 

14% more live seed in every bag is equivalent to a saving of almost £12 per acre at 2012 prices 

In addition to low germination standards, UK grass seed certification also allows the presence of relatively high levels of serious grass 

weeds including both docks and couch grass.Thus grass mixtures certified at EU and even HVS, can introduce literally thousands of new 

weed seeds every time a field is reseeded. Recognising these potentially damaging levels of weed contamination, HF Seeds imposes its 

own freedom from weed standards which are unequalled elsewhere. 

EU HVS HF 

Docks 1,250 1,250 0 

Couch 30,000 2,500 250 

Blackgrass 25,000 2,500 250 

The above table shows the potential number of serious weed seeds which can be sown per acre at different levels of certification and 

clearly demonstrates that HF quality standards offer huge advantages even over HVS, but when compared to the EU minimum standard, 

which accounts for over 70% of UK grass mixture sales, the benefit of HF quality becomes even greater. 

4


S P R I N G v S U M M E R R E S E E D 

Although the majority of grass in arable and mixed 

farming areas is still sown in the spring often under 

cereals, in true grassland areas there is an increasing 

trend towards replacing grass in the traditional summer 

reseed months of August and September. 

The practice of summer reseeding is popular as it allows one or 

perhaps two cuts of silage to be taken before the field is ploughed 

and then effectively lost to production while the new grass is 

establishing. There can also be a significant benefit in terms of the 

weed burden and control in summer as opposed to a spring reseed. 

However whilst there is no doubting the potential benefits of a 

summer reseed, these benefits are completely cancelled out if 

circumstances or weather conditions prevent the reseed taking 

place and a poor field of grass is carried forward into the following 

year. Typically when a summer reseed is missed, as farmers are 

reluctant or perhaps unable to miss out on the following spring’s 

production, the new reseed is postponed until the following 

summer and the whole cycle is repeated. The problem with this 

sequence of events is that the intended reseed has been delayed for 

12 months, production has continued to fall in the interim and a 

substantial financial penalty has been incurred. Worse still, if for any 

reason the summer reseed is missed for a second year, the rapid 

downward spiral of lost yield and reduced quality continues, putting 

increased pressure on forage acres in the following spring and 

making it even more difficult to get off the treadmill of delaying 

reseeding until the summer months. 

Whilst difficult summer weather can mean completely missed 

reseeds, it can also mean a late reseed as farmers are tempted to 

replace grass in late September and even into October. Late 

reseeds, particularly those with a high clover content, are at high risk 

from the early onset of winter and whilst they can be successful in 

prolonged mild autumns, there is a much increased risk of failure and 

the investment in new grass and the expected improvement in 

production can easily be lost. 

The clear message is that prompt, effective reseeding is vital to 

maintain production but with changing weather patterns, successful 

summer reseeds can no longer be guaranteed. Spring reseeds on 

the other hand are guaranteed, as invariably there is a weather 

window when these can be achieved and if the loss of spring 

production argument can be countered, reseeding in the spring 

months becomes an attractive option. 

Spring reseeding with a full mix containing Westerwolds Ryegrass 

overcomes almost every argument against spring sowing and indeed 

is likely to produce more bulk and feed value per acre in the year of 

sowing compared to delaying until the autumn 

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It ensures production in the year of sowing – a poor 

field cut twice and reseeded in the summer will 

produce an estimated 10 – 12 tonnes of fresh grass 

per acre whereas a spring reseed with Westerwolds 

will produce 20 – 25 tonnes per acre 

The total feed value produced per acre is 

dramatically increased through the increased yield 

but also by the replacement of old grass with new 

high quality material much earlier in the year 

Westerwolds will help compete against the greater 

weed burden in the spring and offers the option of 

weed control through cutting or grazing 

Spring sowing means that the full mix has longer to 

establish before its first winter and consequently is 

likely to produce a better, thicker sward for the long 

term 

Westerwolds Ryegrass is a short lived species designed to die out 

in the year of sowing following an initial flush of growth. It is included 

in a full mix at 20% by weight taking the total sowing rate to 17 – 

18 kgs/acre and it should always be sown before the end of June to 

ensure it dies in the year of sowing.The autumn management of a 

sward containing Westerwolds should always include hard grazing to 

ensure it is eradicated as survival into the second year may damage 

the final sward. 

Cutting HF 11 with Westerwolds at Roger and Sam Steel, Dubbs Farm, Eaglesfield, 

Cockermouth, Cumbria (Seed supplied by Carrs Billington Agriculture Ltd) 

‘We sowed HF11 with Westerwolds in 

April and in less than 12 weeks we had an 

unbelievable crop of grass. We cut it for silage 

and then grazed it hard right up to the back 

end. Using Westerwolds is a great way of 

getting production in the same year from 

a spring sow out’ 

Tom Cox, Belmont, Delvin, Co Westmeath 

(Seed supplied by D & P Murphy) 

5

Grass and Fodder Crops T H E C L O V E R S T O R Y 

Clover, and particularly white clover, has always been an important component in UK grass mixtures and in the wake 

of recent fertiliser prices and a growing appreciation of the benefits that both red and white clover can bring, there is 

no doubt that clover and increasing clover levels in grass swards will be a priority on livestock farms in 2012. 

Although there are many clover species available including Alsike, Crimson and Yellow Blossom Clover, these tend to have niche uses and 

the two species in greatest use on UK farms are White Clover (Trifolium repens) and Red Clover (Trifolium pratense).Although both species 

share the same name, each has very different characteristics, uses and production potential. Despite these differences however, they both 

offer similar benefits to the farmer by providing high quality, protein rich forage and a means of reducing or even completely eliminating the 

need for nitrogen fertiliser through a process unique to most legumes called nitrogen fixation. 

K E Y B E N E F I T S O F C L O V E R 

Nitrogen Fixation 

Both Red and White Clover form a mutually beneficial relationship 

with a naturally occurring soil bacterium called Rhizobium which 

colonises the roots of the clover plant in small growths or nodules. 

The Rhizobium bacteria in these nodules have the ability to take in 

or ‘fix’ nitrogen from the air and to convert it into a form which can 

then be utilised for plant growth. 

As a rough guide, although the amount of nitrogen fixed is directly 

proportional to the level of clover in the sward, a good clover and 

grass sward has the ability to produce the equivalent of up to 160 

units N/acre/year (200 kgs N/ha/year). 

Increased Intake 

Clover is very palatable and animals will eat more of a grass and 

clover sward than they will of a grass only sward. 

Better Livestock Performance 

The combination of clover’s higher feed value and increased intake 

ensures substantial improvements in animal performance when 

compared to grass only swards. 

Forage Quality 

Although the immediate attraction of clover to most farmers lies in 

its nitrogen fixing ability, the inclusion of clover in a sward also 

substantially improves forage quality and consequently animal 

performance. 

The digestibility of clover is considerably higher than grass and its D- 

value declines at a much slower rate than Ryegrass as the season 

progresses. In addition the crude protein level in clover is 

approximately 50% higher than grass of equivalent digestibility and 

clovers generally have significantly higher contents of many of the 

major and minor minerals. 

6


W H I T E C L O V E R 

White Clover is less productive then Red but it is much 

more persistent and is therefore used in medium to long 

term mixtures. Its leaves and flowers originate from 

creeping stems called stolons which grow very close to the 

ground giving them protection from even hard grazing. 

These stolons play a vitally important part in both clover 

production and persistence. 

The ideal grass and White Clover sward is one where the clover 

content is sufficiently large to optimise both its nutritional and nitrogen 

fixing abilities but which at the same time allows a high yield from the 

companion grasses. Typically clover should average at around 30% 

ground cover throughout the year but it may vary seasonally from as 

little as 5% in the spring to as much as 60% in mid and late summer. 

Vigorous stolon growth is essential for good clover production and persistence 

The following table shows the typical quality characteristics of White Clover compared to Perennial Ryegrass 

White Clover 

Perennial Ryegrass 

Digestibility (D-value) 75 – 85 65 – 75 

Crude Protein (%) 25 – 28 16 – 18 

Dry Matter intake by sheep (kg DM / day) 1.9 1.4 

Calcium content (%) 1.6 0.6 

Phosphorous content (%) 0.18 0.16 

Copper (parts per million) 10.0 6.5 

Selenium (parts per 100 million) 0.6 0.2 

The three most important factors in achieving the optimum clover content in a sward are as follows: 

Good Establishment 

Whether White Clover is being sown as part of a new reseed or 

overseeded into an existing pasture, the key to unlocking its full benefits 

begins with successful establishment.The optimum soil pH is 5.8 – 6.5 

and clover has a relatively high demand for phosphate and potash. 

Sowing rates should be around 1.0 – 1.5 kgs/acre (7% - 10% of the 

mixture by weight) and it should be sown shallowly into a firm, fine 

seedbed. Mixtures containing White Clover can be sown throughout 

the year but summer reseeds should be completed in time to allow 

stolons to develop before the onset of winter. 

Selection of the Correct Companion Grasses 

White Clover is essentially a poor competitor with grass and as the 

stolons are very dependent on light for their growth and development, 

tall open grasses are much more suitable as companion grasses than 

denser varieties. Thus the Tetraploid Perennials with their tall open 

growth habit and high yields are the ideal companion grasses to allow 

White Clover to thrive. In addition the high sugar content of Tetraploid 

grasses provides the ideal balance to the forage analysis of clover. 

Matching Clover Types and Varieties to Sward Use 

White Clovers are classified into three groups according to their leaf 

size, and to ensure long term clover survival, it is essential to match leaf 

size with the intended sward use. 

Small Leaved 

Small leaved White Clover varieties have a prostrate growth habit and 

are slow to establish but very persistent.They are ideal for close sheep 

grazing and will tolerate the poorer climatic and fertility conditions 

typical of upland areas. 

Medium Leaved 

Medium leaved varieties have a taller 

growth habit and are best suited to 

dual purpose management and 

mixed or cattle grazing. They are 

extensively used in dual purpose and 

long term leys. Performance in terms 

of yield and persistency varies widely 

between varieties. 

Large Leaved 

Large leaved varieties exhibit a tall erect growth habit and as a result are 

generally less suited to grazing and more suited to cutting. Their 

aggressive growth helps them to compete successfully with grass in high 

input situations and they are ideal for medium term cutting mixtures. 

There are many different White Clover varieties available within each 

leaf size group and their performance varies enormously in terms of 

yield, seasonality and persistency under different management regimes. 

It is important to choose a high yielding variety for the obvious benefit 

of increased forage production but also because the highest yielding 

varieties have the ability to fix the greatest amount of nitrogen. Early 

spring growth is also important as slow growth means lower yields and 

less nitrogen fixation in the early part of the season. Lastly good 

persistency under different management regimes is essential as the 

contribution from clover is dramatically reduced if the clover content is 

not maintained at the optimum level. 

All the clover types used in HF mixtures are matched to sward use and 

the individual varieties are selected on the basis of these important 

criteria. 

7


R E D C L O V E R 

Red Clover is one of the highest yielding forage species 

available and in recent years it has undergone a massive 

resurgence in popularity largely due to better varieties, 

improved ensiling techniques and equipment, increased 

demand for greater protein self-sufficiency and reduced 

dependence on purchased nitrogen fertiliser. 

Red Clover is a short-lived perennial plant with a normal lifespan of two 

to four years. It has a tufted, upright growth habit from the crown of the 

plant which lies at ground level and it has a deep tap root. Consequently, 

as it does not have the creeping growth habit of White Clover, Red 

Clover is unable to spread and fill open areas in the sward. Its upright 

growth habit from the central crown restricts its use for grazing and it is 

essentially a crop for silage production which can be cut 3 to 4 times a 

year over its life expectancy of 3 full production years. 

Red Clover can be grown on its own or in a mixture with suitable 

companion grasses.The advantage of using Red Clover in a mixture with 

grass rather than on its own, is that the companion grasses provide 

protection from damage and poaching and if high sugar grasses are used, 

the nutritional balance and ensiling process is much improved.The ideal 

companion grasses for Red Clover are the modern Tetraploid Hybrid 

Ryegrasses which have a similar lifespan and are aggressive enough to 

compete in a sward containing a high percentage of Red Clover. 

Red Clover Silage Facts 

Digestibility 60 – 70% 

Dry Matter Yield 

10 – 15 t DM/ha (4 – 6 t DM/acre) 

Dry Matter Content 25 – 30% 

Energy (ME) 

10.0 – 11.5 MJ/kg DM 

Crude Protein 15 – 20% 

Although Red Clover is primarily a cutting species and lacks persistency 

under grazing, aftermaths can be grazed in the autumn by beef cattle or 

fattening lambs, however due to the high oestrogen content of some 

varieties, grazing with breeding animals should be avoided. 

Red Clover should be sown at 6 – 7 kgs /acre on its own or at 3.5 – 4 

kgs/acre when sown with Hybrid Ryegrass (25% of the mixture by 

weight). 

‘I have been using HF mixtures for as long as I 

can remember and have never had any reason 

to change. They always establish well and 

produce a great sward with plenty bulk for 

cutting or grazing. With current fertiliser 

prices I intend to increase my clover levels and 

I know HF will be happy to make up a mix to 

suit’ 

James French, Pitgair Farm, King Edward,Turriff, 

Aberdeenshire (Seed supplied by UAP Ltd) 

Red Clover silage is high in protein and can significantly reduce the total cost 

of protein in animal diets 

8


A D V A N C E D G R A S S E S T M 

Throughout its long history HF has been renowned for innovation in grass seed technology from the introduction of 

Tetraploids in the early 1970’s right through to HF’s most recent advances in over-seeding and the development of the 

revolutionary iSeed ® . 

Following several years of extensive trial work in conjunction with its parent company DLF Trifolium, HF Seeds is once again leading the way 

with the introduction of a new range of Advanced Grasses TM which has been developed by crossing traditional Italian Ryegrasses with both 

Meadow Fescue and Tall Fescue. Although the idea of crossing fescues (Festuca) and ryegrass (Lolium) is not new, the crossing of improved 

modern varieties has produced a species (Festulolium) which combines the best characteristics of ryegrass and fescue and which has unique 

properties not found in any other species. 

Three new Advanced Grasses TM are included in the 2012 HF mixture range 

PERUN 

PERUN is a variety of Advanced Italian 

Ryegrass but with much better 

persistence, stress tolerance and disease 

resistance than conventional varieties of 

Italian. It is very high yielding with a high 

sugar content and excellent early spring 

growth making it an ideal component in 

short to medium term cutting mixtures. It is 

particularly suitable as a companion grass for 

red clover. 

ITALIAN RYEGRASS ITALIAN RYEGRASS TALL FESCUE 

PERSEUS 

The variety PERSEUS has resulted from a 

cross between Italian Ryegrass and Meadow 

Fescue and has all the desirable characters 

of Italian Ryegrass (very high yield, excellent 

early spring growth and fast regrowth after 

cutting) but with improved persistency and 

stress tolerance. 

HYKOR 

Tall Fescue is extremely drought tolerant and 

consequently is used in hot dry countries as 

a forage species. In the UK the Advanced Tall 

Fescue TM variety HYKOR with its improved 

tolerance of general stress and very dry 

conditions offers a unique solution for 

drought conditions and could be considered 

as an alternative to Cocksfoot offering 

significantly better yields and higher quality. 

A summary of performance data of the three varieties compared to their parent species is shown below 

Yield % Sugar % Protein ME D-Value 

t DM/ha Content Content MJ/kg DM 

HYKOR Advanced 

TM 

Tall Fescue 

17.63 10.4 22.5 11.4 71.4 

Tall Fescue 16.37 12.5 19.8 11.4 71.6 

PERSEUS Advanced 

Italian Ryegrass TM 22.68 12.2 21.6 11.3 71.1 

PERUN Advanced 

Italian Ryegrass TM 19.24 12.2 22.4 11.4 71.6 

Tetraploid Intermediate 


17.37 12.1 24.8 11.4 71.9 

Data from Didbrook Fields, DLF Trifolium’s UK trial centre 

The Advanced Grasses TM are very high yielding and are ideal companion grasses for clover 

9


T R I P L E C R O W N 

Right from the very beginning of the HF brand in the 1960’s, HF Seeds recognised the importance of using the very 

best varieties in terms of yield, forage quality and feed value and that a variety’s overall performance depended on a 

combination of many different characteristics. This total quality philosophy has kept HF Seeds at the forefront of 

variety evaluation techniques and has led to the introduction of many new quality assessment methods over the years. 

The aim of HF Seeds is to ensure that livestock farmers get the very best varieties of grass which are available at the time and that varieties 

are selected and mixtures are designed to achieve the following objectives 

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To maximise meat and milk production by ensuring the feed from grass forms an even more nutritious and digestible 

part of a ruminant’s diet 

To enhance the field performance of a sward in terms of disease resistance, persistency and grazing properties 

To increase sward yield and dry matter production per hectare 

The use of the very latest technology in the analysis and measurement of the individual factors influencing these essential variety 

characteristics allowed HF Seeds to introduce a new quality index in 2011 called TRIPLE CROWN. TRIPLE CROWN is a highly sophisticated 

total quality assessment system measuring the feed, field and yield parameters of individual grass varieties. 

The individual characteristics measured within each of the three parameters are 

FEED PERFORMANCE 

Varieties are assessed for their performance 

in each of the most important feeding 

parameters 

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Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF) 

Digestible Organic Matter 

Crude Protein 

Water Soluble Carbohydrate 

Acid Detergent Fibre (ADF) 

FIELD PERFORMANCE 


in each of the most important agronomic 

parameters 

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■ 

■ 

■ 

Disease Resistance 

Winter Hardiness 

Sward Density 

Stems in Regrowth 

YIELD PERFORMANCE 


in each of the most important production 

parameters 

■ 

■ 

Total Dry Matter Yield 

Seasonal Dry Matter Yield 

One of the key feed performance indicators used in TRIPLE CROWN is Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF). NDF is the slowly digestible part 

of carbohydrates (sugars) in plants and recent pioneering research work in rumen health and performance has shown that the overall NDF 

content and its digestibility is of much more importance than quickly digested sugars or Water Soluble Carbohydrate. 

High NDF Content 

• Is important for rumen health and performance 

• Improves digestion and utilisation of nutrients 

• Stimulates rumen function, stabilises pH and has a positive effect 

on the digestion process 

High NDF Digestibility 

• Increases the amount of forage metabolised by the rumen 

micro-organisms 

• Adds around 1 /4 litre of milk per cow per day for each 1% 

increase in digestibility 

Once a variety’s performance in each of the feed, field and yield 

criteria has been assessed only those varieties with exceptional 

performance are awarded TRIPLE CROWN status. By using the 

TRIPLE CROWN system HF Seeds has been able to go beyond the 

quality assessments used to produce UK Recommended Lists and 

has been able to identify the ‘best of the best’ and to include the 

following exceptional varieties in the 2012 HF mixture range. 

CANCAN 

PASTOUR 

ROMARK 

MAURICE 

POLIM 

Late Perennial Ryegrass 



Tetraploid Late 


Tetraploid Late 


10


H F V A R I E T I E S 

All the varieties used in HF mixtures have been 

selected on the basis of their performance in trials 

throughout the UK. In particular HF Seeds is a 

major participant in the schemes to finance the 

production of the various UK Recommended Lists 

of Grass and Clover varieties. This participation 

ensures that HF mixtures benefit from detailed 

up-to-date information on the latest varieties. 

PERENNIAL RYEGRASS 

Perennial Ryegrass is the most widely sown 

species in the UK. It forms the basis of most 

mixtures because of its combination of useful 

characteristics. Perennial Ryegrasses are 

grouped together according to their maturity 

or heading date. 

Early Maturing Varieties 

Early Perennial Ryegrass will start to grow up 

to two weeks earlier in the spring than later 

varieties. They are particularly useful for early 

growth for sheep grazing or in specialist silage 

mixtures being cut in early to mid May. 

GENESIS New for 2012 

A brand new variety in its first year of commercial 

availability, Genesis is exceptionally high yielding 

under both cutting and grazing with very good early 

spring growth. Genesis also has very good late 

season growth for autumn grazing. 

Intermediate Maturing Varieties 

Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass varieties will 

head on average 7 to 10 days later than Early 

Perennials. They are high yielding and with 

their later heading offer greater flexibility of 

use making them well suited to a wide range 

of grassland enterprises. 

BREE 

Used extensively in HF mixtures, Bree is high yielding 

and particularly suited to grazing management. It has 

excellent mid and late season growth and 

exceptionally good mid-season D-value. 

SOLOMON 

An outstanding new variety first introduced by HF 

Seeds in 2011, Solomon is recommended through 

the UK and is very high yielding under both cutting 

and grazing. Solomon also has exceptionally good 

spring and autumn growth, excellent sward 

density and very good forage quality. An excellent 

variety in all respects and a very valuable new 

addition to the HF range. 

PREMIUM 

(only available as organic) 

Premiun is a high yielding variety under both 

cutting and grazing with very good mid-season 

forage quality. Very good ground cover and 

excellent disease resistance. 

CALIBRA (T) 

(also available as organic) 

Calibra is a high sugar variety and performs equally 

well under both cutting and grazing producing 

some of the highest yields in its class. Calibra also 

has excellent spring growth, very good forage 

quality and good general disease resistance. An 

excellent variety in all the important characters. 

MAGICIAN (T) 


Magician produces very high yields under both 

cutting and grazing.With exceptionally good early 

spring growth Magician produces very high grazing 

yields right though from spring to late summer 

and is high yielding for both first and second cut 

silage. An excellent dual purpose variety which 

makes a valuable contribution to HF mixture 

performance. 

GODALI 1 (T) 

A new variety particularly suited to grazing, Godali 

1 has high grazing yields with very good spring and 

autumn growth, good disease resistance and 

excellent winter hardiness. 

Late Maturing Varieties 

On average Late Perennial Ryegrass varieties 

head 10 - 14 days later than Intermediate 

Perennials. They are characterised by their 

more prostrate growth habit and provide very 

good density in the sward. They are high 

yielding with good persistence and will last for 

many years. 

FOXTROT 


An excellent variety with very high yields of high 

sugar forage under both cutting and particularly 

under grazing. Foxtrot also has very good seasonal 

growth distribution producing high mid-season 

yields with very good D-value. 

PASTOUR 


Recommended for use throughout the UK, 

Pastour has very high yields under both 

managements. It has good spring growth and is 

particularly high yielding in mid and late summer. 

Very good resistance to Crown Rust. 

ROMARK 


Romark is particularly suited to grazing where it 

produces very high yields.Very good ground cover 

and excellent mid-season forage quality and 

digestibility. Romark is also very resistant to Crown 

Rust. 

TYRCONNELL 

Tyrconnell is recommended throughout the UK 

and is a superb grazing variety with good forage 

quality, excellent sward density and very high mid 

and late season yields 

CANCAN 

Cancan is a late heading diploid perennial ryegrass 

with good conservation yields and very high yields 

under grazing. It has excellent sward density and 

very good forage quality making it a very useful 

variety in all types of mixture but particularly 

those with a bias towards grazing. 

KINTYRE (T) New for 2012 

A brand new variety in its first year of commercial 

availability, Kintyre shows outstanding performance 

under both cutting and grazing with consistently 

high yields throughout the growing season and 

very good forage quality at both first and second 

cut. 

TIVOLI (T) 


Tivoli is high yielding under both cutting and 

grazing. It produces good yields of high D-value 

forage over 2 cuts and maintains grazing quality 

throughout the year. 

GLENCAR (T) 

Glencar is recommended for use throughout the 

UK and is the highest yielding Late Perennial 

Ryegrass under conservation on all three 

Recommended Lists. It has exceptionally good 

early spring growth producing massive first cut 

yields at 67D. 

POLIM (T) 


A relatively new variety, Polim is very high yielding 

under grazing with very good early spring growth. 

It also shows high yields under conservation with 

a very high yield at first cut at 67D. Exceptionally 

good resistance to Crown Rust. 

MAURICE (T) 


A very late heading Tetraploid Perennial with good 

ground cover especially suited to long term 

mixtures. Good yields under both cutting and 

grazing which improve over the first three years. 

ITALIAN RYEGRASS 

Italian Ryegrass is relatively short lived and is 

therefore only used in one to three year leys. 

It has a long growing season and produces 

heavy crops of hay or silage. Italian has very 

good early spring growth and combined with 

its relatively late heading date, it will 

produce a leafy silage cut after early 

grazing. 

ALAMO 

Alamo is one of the highest yielding Italians on UK 

Recommended Lists and has good forage quality 

relative to other Italian Ryegrass varieties. 

GEMINI (T) New for 2012 

An excellent tetraploid variety with very high 

yields, good seasonal growth distribution and high 

D-values at both main silage cuts. Good mildew 

resistance. 

11


H F V A R I E T I E S 

HYBRID RYEGRASS 

Hybrid Ryegrasses are bred from a cross 

between Italian and Perennial Ryegrass 

parents. The objective is to combine the 

production of Italian Ryegrass with the 

persistency and forage quality of Perennial 

Ryegrass and recent breeding advances have 

produced new varieties with these 

characteristics making them an ideal 

constituent in leys of up to five years duration. 

TETRAGRAZE (T) New for 2012 

A new high yielding tetraploid variety, Tetragraze 

has good seasonal growth and excellent disease 

resistance with the highest resistance ratings on 

the England and Wales Recommended List for the 

three main diseases affecting grass. 

SOLID (T) 


Solid is a true Perennial type Hybrid producing 

high yields with exceptionally good mid-season 

digestibility and forage quality. Its Perennial 

characteristics ensure outstanding persistence and 

sward density. Solid also has excellent general 

disease resistance with excellent resistance to 

Crown Rust. 

STORM (T) 

Storm produces very high yields under 

conservation and high yields under grazing. It has 

very good early spring growth and good all round 

disease resistance. Storm is specially recommended 

for situations where yield is the top priority. 

FESTULOLIUM 

The Festuloliums or Advanced Grasses result from 

a cross between Fescues and Italian Ryegrass and 

offer all the benefits of Ryegrass combined with 

the stress tolerance of Fescues. 

HYKOR 

An Advanced Tall Fescue TM , Hykor is extremely 

drought tolerant and although its potential for use 

in the UK is limited it offers a unique solution for 

drought conditions and could be considered as an 

alternative to Cocksfoot offering significantly 

better yields and higher quality. 

PERSEUS New for 2012 

An Advanced Italian Ryegrass resulting from a 

cross between Italian Ryegrass and Meadow 

Fescue, Perseus has all the desirable characters of 

Italian Ryegrass namely very high yield, excellent 

early spring growth and fast regrowth after cutting 

but with improved persistency and stress 

tolerance. 

PERUN New for 2012 

Perun is a variety of Advanced Italian Ryegrass 

but with much better persistence and combines 

high yields with good quality and high sugar levels. 

It has exceptional early spring growth and good 

disease resistance and with its unique set of 

characteristics it is an ideal companion grass for 

Red Clover. 

TIMOTHY 

Timothy is an under-rated species as it brings 

many desirable features to a grass mixture. It 

has excellent early spring growth and is late 

heading producing a large bulk of forage at 

first cut. It is very palatable, extremely winter 

hardy and thrives under cool wet conditions. 

Timothy is generally better suited to cutting, 

however its early spring growth can be very 

useful for early bite. 

DOLINA 


Recommended by all three testing authorities, 

Dolina is one of the highest yielding Timothies on 

UK Recommended Lists. It performs particularly 

well under grazing and has excellent early spring 

growth and very good yield distribution 

throughout the growing season. 

PROMESSE 

An excellent Timothy variety with high yields, 

good sward density and very good summer and 

autumn growth. 

COCKSFOOT 

Cocksfoot is very persistent and deep-rooting 

and is therefore suited to light gravelly soils 

where mid-summer drought may reduce 

yields. It is extremely winter hardy with good 

early spring growth and it also yields well in 

late summer and autumn. Cocksfoot needs to 

be managed tightly in mid-season as it can 

become stemmy and unpalatable. 

SPARTA 

A later heading Cocksfoot, Sparta has good 

ground cover and produces high yields under 

grazing. It has good early spring growth and has 

the highest mid-season digestibility of all the 

Cocksfoot varieties. 

WHITE CLOVER 

White Clover varieties are classified by leaf size. 

The smaller leaved varieties have a prostrate 

creeping growth habit and persist well under 

grazing whereas the larger leaved varieties are 

more erect and better suited to cutting. 

ALICE 

A large leaved high yielding variety well suited to 

cutting with consistent seasonality of growth. Also 

achieves a high clover content and persists well 

under grazing despite its large leaf size. 

RIESLING 

A high yielding large leaved variety with good 

persistence and good ground cover for a large 

leaved variety. 

CHIEFTAIN 

On the borderline between large and medium 

leaf size, Chieftain is recommended throughout 

the UK and produces very high yields with 

excellent late season growth with good ground 

clover for its leaf size. 

AVOCA 

Avoca is an outstanding medium leaved variety 

recommended by all three testing authorities. It is 

extremely high yielding with excellent seasonal 

yield distribution and particularly good early 

spring growth compared to many other clover 

varieties. It is also very persistent under both 

cutting and grazing. 

RONNY 

Ronny is a new small leaved clover variety 

producing high yields of clover with good early 

spring and excellent mid-season growth. Very 

persistent under hard grazing. 

RIVENDEL 

A small leaved variety with good yields and 

excellent persistence under hard grazing. 

RED CLOVER 

Red Clover is an aggressive and very high 

yielding but relatively short-lived species with 

a maximum life expectancy of around 3 

years. It is primarily used in short term 

conservation mixtures. Resistance to the 

Sclerotinia and Stem Eelworm both of which 

are very damaging to the persistency 

of Red Clover and are important factors to 

consider in the evaluation of varieties. 

RAJAH 

(only available as organic) 

An intermediate to late flowering variety, Rajah is 

a Diploid variety with high yields with good 

persistency and general disease resistance. Rajah 

also shows good resistance to both Sclerotinia 

and Stem Eelworm. 

AMOS 

A very high yielding Tetraploid variety with 

intermediate earliness. Amos has good general 

disease resistance relative to other varieties but 

has much better persistency and maintains high 

yields over a longer period. 

CORVUS 

High annual yields with good ground cover and 

persistency over three harvest years. 

12

Grass and Grass Fodder and Fodder Crops Crops 

M I X T U R E S E L E C T O R 

HF mixtures are designed and formulated to meet specific sward uses. Significant differences between mixtures are 

not always obvious but even small differences can change the way in which the final sward behaves. Selection of the 

wrong mixture will inevitably mean that the sward will not perform up to expectations simply because it is the wrong 

mix for the job. 

The HF mixture selector is designed to help answer many of the common questions in mixture selection, however it is not possible to cater 

for every situation and if in doubt contact HF Seeds for further advice. 

Type of Reseed 

Organic 

Conventional 

Conventional 

High Clover 

Overseeding 

New Reseed 

Grass 

Rejuvenation 

New Reseed 

HF Organics 

Pages 26-27 

HF Organic 

Rejuvenator 

Page 27 

How long will 

the mix be down? 

HF 

High Clover 

Page 24-25 

HF 

GrassMax 

Page 21-23 

One to 

Two Years 

Two to 

Four Years 

Four to 

Eight Years 

As long 

as possible 

HF Bonus 

Page 14 

HF Surecrop 

Page 14 

How will it 

be used? 

Height above 

Sea Level? 

Mainly Cutting 

Cattle Grazing 

Cutting & 

Grazing 

Hay 

Up to 

1,000 feet 

Over 

1,000 feet 

HF 

Super Graze 

Page 17 

HF 

Scotshay 

Page 19 

HF PD 

Page 17 

HF 

High Hill 

Page 18 

First Cut 

in May 

First Cut 

in June 

Early Bite 

for Sheep 

Required 

No 

Early Bite 

Required 

HF 

Super Silage 

Page 16 

HF 

Cutsward 

Page 16 

HF 

Prospect 

Page 15 

HF 11 

Page 15 

For specialist mixtures such as 

Reliant, Horse Paddock and Dry Land see pages 18 - 20 

13


T H E M I X T U R E S 

ONE TO TWO YEAR MIXTURE 

HF 

B●NUS 

A mixture designed for intensive use and maximum yield over two 

full production years. Suitable for intensive cutting and/or grazing 

and the standard mix can be undersown or direct seeded. A Red 

Clover inclusion option is available if required but this mix is not 

suitable for undersowing. 

ALAMO 

Italian Ryegrass 

GEMINI 

Tetraploid Italian Ryegrass 

PERUN 

Advanced Italian Ryegrass TM 

SOLID 

Tetraploid Hybrid Ryegrass 

TETRAGRAZE 


RECOMMENDED SOWING RATE 

13 - 14 KG/ACRE (32 - 35 KG/HECTARE) 

❚ Optimum cutting date – first week in June 

❚ Massive yield potential from the combination of very 

high yielding Italian and Hybrid Ryegrasses 

❚ Includes the new Advanced Italian Ryegrass variety 

Perun combining exceptionally high yields with good 

forage quality and excellent stress tolerance 

❚ Specially formulated with the correct proportions of the 

highest yielding varieties for maximum yield and 

persistency over two full production years 

❚ Only contains grasses capable of establishment and 

survival in a very competitive and productive sward 

❚ High Tetraploid content ensures grazing palatability and 

high sugar levels for rapid silage fermentation 

❚ Exceptionally good early spring growth from all 

components 

❚ Suitable for early bite followed by first cut silage as the 

relatively late heading dates and good D-values allow 

delayed cutting to produce high silage yields at 67D 

❚ Varieties specially selected for forage quality, 

palatability and mid-season digestibility 

❚ Option to add Red Clover where the mix is intended 

primarily for cutting 

OVERSEED WITH 

THREE YEAR MIXTURE 

HF 

A high performance three year mixture including Hybrid and 

Perennial Ryegrasses and White Clover. HF Surecrop is suitable for 

intensive cutting and/or grazing and can be either undersown or 

direct seeded. A Red Clover inclusion option which is unsuitable for 

undersowing is available if required. For optimum performance HF 

Surecrop is best grazed in its first year. 

TETRAGRAZE 


SOLID 


BAHIAL 


PERUN 


MAGICIAN 

Tetraploid Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass 

HF INTENSIVE CLOVER BLEND 

White Clover 




❚ Suitable for both cutting or grazing and specially 

formulated for exceptionally high yields over three full 

production years 

❚ Includes the new Advanced Italian Ryegrass variety, 

Perun, combining high yields with good forage quality 

and excellent stress tolerance 

❚ Hybrid content combines the production potential of 

Italian Ryegrass with the persistency and forage quality 

of Perennial 

❚ Very good early spring growth for high yields at first cut 

❚ Only contains grasses capable of establishment and 

survival in a very competitive and productive sward 

❚ High Tetraploid content ensures grazing palatability and 

high sugar levels for rapid silage fermentation 

❚ Unique blend of highly productive White Clover varieties 

designed to maximise production, herbage quality and 

livestock performance and to ensure clover persistence 

under intensive management 

❚ Option to add or to change to Red Clover where the mix 

is intended primarily for cutting 

OVERSEED WITH 

‘Our contracting 

business makes a lot 

of silage across 1500 

acres and we know 

how important big 

cuts of quality silage 

are to our customers 

and ourselves. We 

started using HF 

mixtures again 3 years ago after being 

disappointed with other mixtures and are 

delighted at the superb yields and quality we 

are getting. This year’s grass was established 

under a crop of spring barley and we have 

been able to make a cut of lovely silage 3 

weeks after the barley was combined’ 

Mike Allardyce and his son Mike, Catterloch, 

Banchory, Aberdeenshire (Seed supplied by 

Scotgrain Agriculture Ltd) 

Jim Thompson at 14 Kilmahamogue Road, Ballycastle, 

Co Antrim cutting an HF mixture containing Westerwolds 

‘I have used HF 11 

for a long time as it is 

hardy, lasts a long 

time and cuts and 

grazes really well but 

I have been having 

problems with grass 

choking out the 

barley in undersows. 

This year I decided to try a direct reseed 

with Westerwolds and it was very successful. 

Sown in mid-April and cut in mid-July it 

produced over 13 bales per acre and left a 

great field of grass underneath. I will 

certainly do it again’ 

George Paterson, Upper Obney Farm, Bankfoot, 

Perthshire (Seed supplied by Frontier Agriculture Ltd) 

14



‘I can’t see past HF 

11, it consistently 

produces the bulk and 

quality that we are 

looking for. This year 

all the direct reseeds 

included Westerwolds 

and the bulk they 

produced in a such a 

short period of time was outstanding’ 

Ian Wilson, Fordie Farm,Torphins, Aberdeenshire 

(Seed supplied by UAP Ltd) 

(Seed supplied by Wm A Palmer) 

‘My family have been 

HF Seeds users for 

many years. I thought 

I would try another 

mixture, but it was 

inferior to the usual 

high standards that 

I’m used to achieving 

with HF. I’m now back 

using HF mixtures again as they consistently 

give me very high yields of quality grass and 

silage to feed to my pedigree Simmental 

cattle.’ 

Robert Macgregor, Kirkton of Mailer, Bridge 

of Earn, Perthshire (Seed supplied by Carrs 

Billington Agriculture Ltd) 

DUAL PURPOSE MIXTURES 

HF 

Scotland’s best selling dual purpose mixture, 

tried and tested across the country and 

renowned for its yield and performance 

under different management regimes. HF 11 

is a flexible, rotational mixture suitable for 

both cutting and grazing and will last from 

five to eight years. 

BREE 

Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass 

SOLOMON 


CALIBRA 


GODALI 1 


ROMARK 


TYRCONNELL 


PASTOUR 


KINTYRE 

Tetraploid Late Perennial Ryegrass 

DOLINA 

Timothy 

PROMESSE 

Timothy 

HF DUAL PURPOSE CLOVER BLEND 

White Clover 



❚ Optimum cutting date - end of first week in June 

❚ Specially formulated for a high NDF content and top quality forage 

with high proportions of the TRIPLE CROWN varieties Romark and 

Pastour 

❚ Contains the outstanding new variety, Kintyre, in its first year of 

commercial availability, which produces very high yields of high D- 

value forage under both cutting and grazing 

❚ Includes Solomon for its exceptional first cut yields and late season 

growth and Tyrconnell for its very high grazing yields and superb 

sward density 

❚ Very good spring growth but with later heading ensuring high 

yields of quality forage at first cut 

❚ Exceptional sward density from Solomon, Tyrconnell and Romark, 

three of the densest varieties on UK recommended lists 

❚ High clover content to ensure a good clover level in the final sward 

❚ Contains HF’s unique Dual Purpose Clover Blend which is based on 

the most productive varieties and designed to achieve the 

maximum clover content and persistency under both cutting and 

grazing 

OVERSEED WITH 

HF 

A dual purpose rotational mixture, similar to 

HF 11 in many ways, but containing Early 

Perennial Ryegrass to give early spring 

growth for early bite for ewes and lambs. In 

a cutting situation HF Prospect is earlier 

heading than HF 11 but with its better early 

season growth it is the ideal mix on beef and 

sheep farms where early bite is required 

before first cut silage. 

GENESIS 

Early Perennial Ryegrass 

BREE 


SOLOMON 


GODALI 1 


ROMARK 


TYRCONNELL 


PASTOUR 


KINTYRE 


DOLINA 

Timothy 

PROMESSE 

Timothy 


White Clover 



❚ Optimum cutting date - last week in May 

❚ Specially formulated for a high NDF content and top quality 

forage with high proportions of the TRIPLE CROWN varieties 

Romark and Pastour 

❚ Contains the outstanding new variety, Kintyre, in its first year 

of commercial availability, which produces very high yields of 

high D-value forage under both cutting and grazing 

❚ Includes Solomon for its exceptional first cut yields and late 

season growth and Tyrconnell for its very high grazing yields 

and superb sward density 

❚ Specially formulated for exceptional early spring growth for 

early bite for ewes and lambs 

❚ Exceptional sward density from Solomon, Tyrconnell and 

Romark, three of the densest varieties available today 

❚ Contains a high level of HF’s unique Dual Purpose Clover 

Blend designed to achieve maximum clover content and 

production in award which is likely to be grazed in the early 

spring a late summer in addition to being cut for silage 

OVERSEED WITH 

15



INTENSIVE CUTTING MIXTURES 

HF 

HF 

A specialist high yielding silage mixture of medium term duration 

with delayed heading for late areas or where first cut is taken in 

early June. 

SOLOMON 


CALIBRA 


MAGICIAN 


FOXTROT 


PASTOUR 


KINTYRE 


GLENCAR 


DOLINA 

Timothy 

HF CUTTING CLOVER BLEND 

White Clover 



❚ Optimum cutting date - end of first week in June 

❚ Specially formulated for high sugar forage 

❚ Contains the TRIPLE CROWN variety Pastour included 

for its forage quality and high conservation yield 

❚ Includes the outstanding new variety, Kintyre, in its first 

year of commercial availability, which has the highest 

conservation yield on the 2012 SAC Recommended List 

and excellent forage quality 

❚ Contains later heading varieties like Glencar, Foxtrot 

and Pastour which have the highest conservation yields 

on the SAC Recommended List and which have 

been specially selected to maximise silage yields at 

later cutting dates 

❚ Superb forage quality and D-value 

❚ Good spring growth with later heading ensures high 


❚ Not just a first cut mixture with varieties chosen for 

rapid regrowth and high second cut yields 

❚ The relatively high Timothy content makes the mixture 

an ideal choice for conservation on colder sites and in 

later areas 

❚ Excellent winter hardiness 

❚ Clover content based entirely on HF’s unique Cutting 

Clover blend to ensure good clover production and 

survival under intensive silage management 

OVERSEED WITH 

A medium term silage mixture specifically designed for three cut 

systems. The mixture recipe and variety split ensures the very good 

early spring growth which is necessary to produce high yields at 

early first cut dates. 

SOLID 


SOLOMON 


MAGICIAN 


FOXTROT 


PASTOUR 


KINTYRE 


GLENCAR 



White Clover 



❚ Optimum cutting date - last week in May 

❚ Formulated with varieties specially chosen to provide 

maximum bulk of quality silage at earlier cutting dates 

❚ Contains the TRIPLE CROWN variety Pastour included 

for its forage quality and high conservation yield 


year of commercial availability, which has the highest 

conservation yield on the 2012 SAC Recommended List and 

excellent forage quality 


❚ High sugar yield per acre ensures maximum feeding 

value, excellent palatability and rapid silage 

fermentation 

❚ Based on many of the highest yielding Perennial 

Ryegrasses under conservation on the 2012 SAC 

Recommended List 

❚ Based on varieties which have shown good persistence 

under intensive cutting 

❚ Good mid-season growth and digestibility for second 

and subsequent cuts 

❚ Varieties selected for their forage quality and D-value 

at first cut 

❚ Clover content based entirely on HF’s unique Cutting 



OVERSEED WITH 

‘I'm a big fan of HF 

Super Silage. In 

dairying it is important 

to have plenty of good 

quality high D- value 

silage. Super Silage is a 

tremendous yielder and 

with its high sugar 

levels and excellent 

forage quality it consistently produces the 

type of silage we are looking for’ 

Mark McIntyre, 197 Carnalbanagh Road, 

Broughshane, Co. Antrim (Seed supplied by Logan 

McMaster Engineering) 

16



‘We are on a wet site 

on the island of Arran 

and with our very high 

rainfall we need grass 

mixtures that can 

withstand a lot of 

poaching. I have tried 

other grass seed 

mixtures but I always 

end up coming back to HF and usually HF PD. 

It always produces a very dense, persistent 

sward and a good bulky cut of silage. Lambs do 

really well on the aftermaths into the back-end 

and the ewes have a tough hardy sward to see 

them through the winter’ 

John McDonald,Auchenhew Farm, Isle of Arran 

(Seed supplied by Ralph Bova Farm Supplies) 

‘I have used HF PD 

for a long time and am 

very happy with how 

it performs. It always 

does very well 

producing a good 

dense sward and plenty 

grass for both cutting 

and grazing and seems 

to be an ideal mixture for beef and sheep in 

this area’’ 

Stewart McIntosh, Outer Huntly Farm,Ashkirk, Selkirk, 

Scottish Borders (Seed supplied by Clark & Weir Ltd) 

INTENSIVE GRAZING MIXTURE 

HF 

Specially designed for intensive cattle 

grazing. Based on short growing, high 

tillering and long lived grasses and 

producing a very dense, highly productive 

sward of great persistence. Suitable for 

medium to long term use. 

BREE 


SOLOMON 


TYRCONNELL 


CANCAN 


ROMARK 


PASTOUR 


KINTYRE 


GLENCAR 


HF GRAZING CLOVER BLEND 

White Clover 



❚ Specially formulated for a high NDF content and top 

quality forage with high proportions of the TRIPLE 

CROWN varieties Cancan, Romark and Pastour 

❚ High sugar yields ensure excellent palatability and 

improved animal performance 

❚ Contains exceptional grazing varieties like Bree, 

Solomon and Tyrconnell chosen for their yield and 

performance under grazing management 


year of commercial availability, which has one of the 

highest grazing yields on the 2012 SAC Recommended 

List and excellent forage quality 

❚ Extreme sward density able to withstand heavy grazing 

and poaching in high rainfall areas 

❚ Based on a unique blend of Perennial Ryegrass varieties 

designed to provide predictable grazing yield and 

quality throughout the entire season 

❚ Formulated to have grass at the right stage for grazing 

at cattle turnout 

❚ Even grass growth throughout the season allows ease of 

grazing management 

❚ Contains the best possible White Clover varieties for 

production and persistence under intensive cattle 

grazing 

OVERSEED WITH 

PERMANENT MIXTURE 

HF 

PD 

A versatile permanent mixture with extreme 

sward density consisting of a blend of 

grasses and clovers that will produce a well 

balanced sward giving even growth of 

quality herbage for many years. 

GENESIS 


SOLOMON 


CALIBRA 


PASTOUR 


ROMARK 


MAURICE 


DOLINA 

Timothy 

PROMESSE 

Timothy 

HERALD 

Creeping Red Fescue 


White Clover 



❚ Specially formulated for a high NDF content and top 

quality forage with high proportions of the TRIPLE 

CROWN varieties Pastour, Romark and Maurice 

❚ Broad spread of varieties provides a versatile mixture 

suitable for grazing and/or cutting 

❚ Superb early spring growth from Genesis, Solomon and 

the Timothy varieties to ensure early bite for ewes and 

lambs but also high yields of quality fodder at first cut 

❚ Very persistent and winter hardy varieties for longevity 

of the sward 

❚ Extreme sward density from a high proportion of Late 

Perennial Ryegrass and also from a low inclusion of 


❚ Excellent mid and late season growth maintains summer 

production and extends the grazing season 

❚ High inclusion of HF’s unique Dual Purpose Clover blend 

designed to maximise the clover content for production, 

palatability and livestock performance 

❚ Clover blend contains the best possible White Clover 

varieties for production and persistency in a permanent 

mixture 

OVERSEED WITH 

17



PERMANENT MIXTURE 

HF 

SPECIALIST MIXTURES 

HF 

A long term traditional mixture containing 

Cocksfoot designed for more extensive use 

and to improve production on land which is 

prone to drought. 

GENESIS 


SOLOMON 


CALIBRA 


FOXTROT 


ROMARK 


CANCAN 


PROMESSE 

Timothy 

DOLINA 

Timothy 

SPARTA 

Cocksfoot 

HERALD 



White Clover 



❚ Contains Cocksfoot for early spring growth and drought 

tolerance 

❚ Excellent early bite for ewes and lambs 

❚ Contains the TRIPLE CROWN varieties Romark and 

Cancan included for their grazing performance, forage 

quality and sward density 

❚ Blend of grasses formulated to provide consistent 

production from early spring to late autumn 

❚ Excellent sward density for Solomon, Foxtrot, Romark 

and Cancan all of which receive a ‘A’ for sward density 

on the 2012 SAC Recommended List 

❚ Will perform equally well under cutting or grazing 

❚ Creeping Red Fescue with its creeping growth habit 

binds the sward together and aids recovery after 

poaching or over-grazing 

❚ Contains HF’s highly productive Grazing Clover blend to 

maximise production, herbage quality and livestock 

performance 

OVERSEED WITH 

A long term hill mixture specially designed 

for sheep grazing and to suit the harsher 

conditions of upland pastures. Ideal for 

reseeding hills or reclaiming marginal land. 

Contains grasses suited to the poorer soils 

and shorter growing season typical of hill 

ground. 

BREE 


SOLOMON 


ROMARK 


FOXTROT 


MAURICE 


PROMESSE 

Timothy 

DOLINA 

Timothy 

HERALD 



White Clover 



❚ Based on later heading varieties to ensure good 

growth in later areas before the production of seed 

heads 


Maurice included for their forage quality, grazing 

performance and persistency 

❚ Early bite provided by a high Timothy content and a 

high proportion of grazing tolerant Perennial Ryegrass 

varieties 

❚ Very good winter hardiness for longevity under harsher 

upland conditions 

❚ Varieties selected for sward density to resist poaching 

❚ A high proportion of persistent Late Perennials ensures 

good production over many years 

❚ The unique combination of grazing Perennial 

Ryegrasses produces short dense growth ideal for 

grazing 

❚ Will also provide a cut of hay or silage if required 


binds the sward together and aids recovery after 

poaching or over-grazing 

❚ All ingredients selected for cold and snow tolerance 

❚ High content of HF’s unique Grazing Clover blend 

specially designed for production and persistency in 

an upland situation 

OVERSEED WITH 

‘The system we run 

here at Doune Farms 

is based on outwintering 

both the 

cattle and sheep, so 

we must have tough, 

winter hardy and 

dense swards that can 

produce grass for as 

long a season as possible and stand up to the 

stock numbers we are carrying. Lime, 

phosphate and potash are used when 

necessary, but we apply no nitrogen fertiliser 

and have extra white clover added to our HF 

Reliant which supplies all our nitrogen 

requirements’ 

Martin Bridges, Moray Estates Farms Manager, 

Doune Farms, Milton of Cambus, Doune, 

Perthshire (Seed supplied by Scotgrain 

Agriculture Ltd) 

18




HF 

A modern mixture for traditional hay making, specially designed 

with varieties to produce a large bulk of the type of forage typically 

required for hay. 

GENESIS 


SOLOMON 


BREE 


FOXTROT 


PASTOUR 


COSMOLIT 

Meadow Fescue 

PROMESSE 

Timothy 

DOLINA 

Timothy 


White Clover 



❚ Specially designed to produce top yields of easily 

made hay 

❚ Contains high proportions of Solomon and Pastour, two 

of the highest yielding Perennial Ryegrasses under 

cutting on the 2012 SAC Recommended List 

❚ Tetraploid grasses excluded to improve dry matter and 

ease of hay-making 

❚ High Timothy content ideal for hay mixtures 

❚ Varieties selected on the basis of their growth pattern 

and maturity to provide the right sward characteristics 

for quality hay production 

❚ Very good sward density despite a high Timothy 

content 

❚ Contains leafy albeit relatively stemmy varieties and no 

Tetraploids for ease of hay-making 

❚ Good winter hardiness and persistency ensures 

consistent bulk over many years 

HF 

HORSE 

Paddock 

A custom built mix using species and varieties specially selected 

to produce a very dense and hard wearing sward suitable for 

horses and ponies. Designed to provide palatable grazing 

throughout the growing season but also suitable for hay 

production. 

SOLOMON 


TYRCONNELL 


ROMARK 


PROMESSE 

Timothy 

HERALD 



15 KG/ACRE (37 KG/HECTARE) 

❚ Based on the densest varieties for an exceptionally dense 

damage resistant sward with all three Perennial 

Ryegrasses getting an ‘A’ for density on the 2012 SAC 

Recommended List 

❚ Contains the TRIPLE CROWN variety Romark included 

for its forage quality, grazing performance and sward 

density 

❚ High Timothy content ideal for horses and ponies 

❚ Formulated with varieties which will provide attractive 

but low sugar forage to help minimise the risk of 

laminitis 

❚ Designed to produce palatable grazing throughout the 

entire season 


binds the sward together and quickly repairs sward 

damage caused by hooves 

❚ Offers the option of horse hay production if required 

19




HF 

DryLAND 

A specialist mixture for very dry conditions using deep rooted grasses 

with excellent resistance to drought. Formulated using species not 

commonly found in UK agricultural mixtures, HF Dry Land is 

designed to produce fodder in extremely dry situations where 

conventional mixtures are likely to fail. 

KORA 

Tall Fescue 

HYKOR 

Advanced Tall Fescue TM 

LOFA 

Advanced Hybrid Ryegrass TM 

SPARTA 

Cocksfoot 

MAURICE 




❚ A unique solution to fodder production in very dry 

conditions 

❚ Contains species specially selected for their drought and 

stress tolerance in particular Hykor Advanced Tall 

Fescue TM and Lofa Advanced Hybrid Ryegrass TM 

❚ Also includes Tall Fescue a species used for forage 

production in hot dry countries 

❚ High sugar varieties with good forage quality used to 

balance the poorer quality of the Tall Fescue and 

Cocksfoot 

❚ Suitable for cutting or grazing 

❚ Contains the TRIPLE CROWN variety Maurice included for 

its drought tolerance, sward density and persistency 

❚ Excellent disease resistance particularly to Crown Rust 

which can be a major problem in hot, dry conditions and 

which can seriously affect both yield and palatability 

LANDSCAPING 

HF 

Multi Purpose 

LANDSCAPER 

A mixture specially designed for all situations where a relatively hard 

wearing, low maintenance grass sward with an attractive 

appearance is required. This mix is ideal for river banks, roadside 

verges, orchards, caravan sites, headlands round fruit fields, paths 

etc and any other situations where low maintenance cover is 

required. 

ROMARK 


HERALD 




❚ Suitable for all low maintenance situations where an 

attractive appearance is required 

❚ Although the sowing rate is higher than standard 

agricultural mixtures it is considerably less than the 

rate required by a true amenity mix to achieve the 

same effect 

❚ Produces a hard wearing and attractive sward with 

a good dark green colour 

❚ Designed for situations where an attractive 

appearance is required but where the circumstances 

do not justify the expense of a true amenity mix 

❚ Specially formulated with a high proportion of 

Creeping Red Fescue for extreme sward density 

and wear tolerance 

SHEEP FEED MIXTURES 

HF 

CC 

A highly productive catch cropping mix including white turnips 

designed to produce autumn grazing for sheep and fattening 

lambs. 

ALAMO 


HOBSON 

Forage Rape 

GREEN GLOBE 

White Turnip 



HF 

CD 

A highly productive catch cropping mix similar to HF CC but without 

white turnips. 

ALAMO 


HOBSON 

Forage Rape 



HF CC and CD are balanced mixtures 

designed to produce an Italian Ryegrass 

sward with a brassica cover crop thereby 

providing both autumn grazing from the 

combination of species and winter and early 

spring grazing from the Italian Ryegrass. 

Inevitably this compromise will not produce 

the short term bulk of a single brassica but 

will provide a lower level of keep for a 

longer period of time. In the management of 

these mixtures it should be remembered 

that both rape and turnips are aggressive 

species and if allowed to grow too tall they 

can smother the Italian Ryegrass. These 

mixtures should therefore be grazed early 

to allow the Italian to thrive. 

20


O V E R S E E D I N G 

Every grassland farmer is well aware of the vigour and high level of production that can be achieved from a new reseed 

and also that inevitably through time, the sown grasses begin to disappear and the sward thins out and production 

suffers.The decline of sown species is influenced by many different factors but on average by the time grass reaches 7 

or 8 years old, only around 60% of the sown species remain and 40% of the sward is either bare ground or occupied by 

weed grasses. This deterioration not only affects yield but also has a significant effect on palatability, forage quality, 

spring growth and the overall response to fertiliser inputs.When these are added together, the effect on both animal 

performance and the overall financial return is substantial and a sward with 40 – 50% bare ground or weed grass 

content can mean a loss of up to £300 per acre per year in feed value. 

Recognising the need to maintain a high proportion of sown species in older grass and that a full reseed is not always practical, HF Seeds 

has developed the GrassMax system of overseeding which presents a real opportunity to restore production in tired or damaged swards 

to newly sown levels without the expense or disruption of a full reseed.The GrassMax system of overseeding can also be used to introduce 

or increase clover levels in existing swards. 

The key to successful overseeding lies in ensuring that the newly sown plants are capable of competing with the existing grass and that the 

germinating seedlings have sufficient vigour to establish successfully in what can be a very competitive environment. Increasing the 

competitiveness of the establishing plants can be achieved in three ways each of which has a cumulative effect in ensuring success. 

Minimise Competition from the Existing Sward 

When the existing sward is growing strongly there is obviously more 

competition for the establishing seedlings. Consequently the timing 

of the actual overseeding operation and the subsequent fertiliser 

treatment are important factors to consider.The objective should be 

to find a window during the season when the existing sward is short 

and is not growing strongly. Ideal conditions are provided after a hard 

graze or immediately after the last silage cut of the season. No 

fertiliser should be applied for at least 15 days after the overseeding 

operation. 

Use a Mixture Designed for Overseeding 

Large seeded grasses are more competitive in their establishment 

and all the HF GrassMax mixtures are comprised of Tetraploid 

Hybrid and Perennial Ryegrasses specially selected for their 

establishment vigour. The use of these large seeded, aggressively 

establishing grasses significantly increases their ability to compete 

with the existing sward. 

Use Mixtures Treated with iSeed ® 

Although conventional fertiliser application 

will increase the establishment vigour of the 

new seedlings, its growth promotion effect on 

the existing sward is greater and competition 

is increased to a level which often 

overwhelms the establishing plants. For 2012, 

all HF GrassMax mixtures are available with 

the unique and revolutionary iSeed ® treatment where every 

individual seed is coated with both nitrogen and phosphate. This 

unique targeted fertiliser concept feeds the sown seeds and not the 

surrounding sward and dramatically improves establishment vigour at 

the most crucial stage in the overseeding process. Extensive trials 

have shown that the uptake of iSeed ® fertiliser is four times more 

effective than conventional applications and have demonstrated 

establishment gains of up to 50% and substantial gains to both root 

and shoot development. 

The benefit of iSeed ® 30 days 

after sowing is clear to see 

UNTREATED 

iSeed ® TREATED 

21



OVERSEEDING MIXTURES 

HF 

HF 

A mixture specially designed for overseeding fields which will be 

mainly cut for silage. 

SOLID 


STORM 


MAGICIAN 



White Clover 



❚ 100% Tetraploid grasses which are ideal for overseeding 

as they have the largest seeds and are aggressive 

establishers 

❚ Grasses based entirely on Hybrid and Perennial 

Ryegrasses with the highest conservation yields on 

UK recommended lists 

❚ Very good forage quality from Solid in particular 

❚ Varieties chosen for good spring growth to ensure high 

yields at first cut 

❚ Contains a high proportion of HF’s unique Cutting 



❚ No Clover option available on request 

‘We finish a big 

number of beef cattle 

off both grazed grass 

and out of the shed in 

the winter months. 

Quality grass and 

plenty of it is really 

important for both 

grazing and cutting 

and our HF mixtures never let us down. In 

the grazing fields they are easily managed 

and carry a lot of stock and we never need 

to worry about silage yields and filling the 

pit. We have also done a bit of over-seeding 

with GrassMax Graze and that seems to 

work really well’ 

Edward Chalmers,Thriepland Farm, Portsoy, 

Banffshire (Seed supplied by UAP Ltd) 

WITH RED CLOVER 

A specialist overseeding mixture containing a high level of Red 

Clover designed to introduce both new grass and Red Clover into 

silage swards. This mix can also be used to prolong the life of 

existing Red Clover swards provided Eelworm is not a problem 

SOLID 


STORM 


HF RED CLOVER BLEND 

Red Clover 



❚ All ingredients have large seeds and are capable of 

establishing in an existing sward 

❚ Grass component is 100% Tetraploid Hybrid Ryegrass 

which is sufficiently aggressive to compete and survive 

in a Red Clover sward 

❚ 30% Red Clover content to ensure a good plant 

population in the overseeded sward 

❚ Very good forage quality from Solid in particular 

❚ The high sugar content the Tetraploid Hybrid Ryegrasses 

is the perfect match to balance the relatively low sugar 

levels in red clover 

Overseeding HF GrassMax Graze with iSeed in Sutherland 

Guidelines for Successful Overseeding 

Field Preparation 

• Remove all surplus grass growth by cutting or 

hard grazing 

• Scarify the area in opposite directions using a 

wire tine grass scarifying harrow 

Sowing 

• Sow at the same time as scarifying with up to 

10 kg/acre (25 kg/hectare) of the appropriate 

mixture 

• Where iSeed ® treatment is used, as the 

fertiliser coating increases the weight of the 

seed, it is necessary to increase the treated 

seed sowing rate to ensure the number of 

actual seeds remains at the target level. The 

unique formulation of iSeed ® means that the 

weight of treated seed is effectively double 

that of untreated seed. To ensure that the 

number of seeds sown per unit area remains at 

the target level it is therefore necessary to 

double the sowing rate taking the standard 

iSeed ® sowing rate to 20 kgs/acre (50 kgs/ha) 

• Roll immediately after sowing to consolidate 

the ground, conserve moisture and ensure 

good seed to soil contact 

BEFORE 

A typical sward before overseeding 

22



OVERSEEDING MIXTURES 

HF 

HF 

A mixture specially designed for overseeding fields which will be both 

cut and grazed. 

A mixture specially designed for overseeding fields which will be 

predominantly grazed. 

(Seed supplied by W & A Geddes Ltd) 

Timing 

• With untreated seed, to ensure that 

competition from the existing sward is 

minimised, the optimum overseeding window 

is immediately after the last silage cut of the 

season or after a hard graze in the spring or 

autumn 

• Although the benefit of minimising 

competition from the existing sward also 

applies to iSeed ® , the increased 

competitiveness of iSeed ® reduces the 

dependence on timing and may offer the 

opportunity of a much wider sowing window 

Fertiliser 

• When clover is included wait until at least 30 

days after sowing before applying any nitrogen 

fertiliser to minimise competition from the 

existing sward. If clover is not included this 

period can be reduced to 15 days 

SOLID 


CALIBRA 


POLIM 


GLENCAR 



White Clover 



❚ Specially formulated with high sugar varieties to 

improve the sugar content of existing swards 

❚ Contains a high proportion of the TRIPLE CROWN variety 

Polim included for its excellent all round performance 

and high NDF content 


as they have the largest seeds and are aggressive 

establishers 

❚ Based on Hybrid and Perennial Ryegrass varieties with 

high yields under both cutting and grazing 

❚ Exceptionally good Crown Rust resistance from Polim 

which receives a very high resistance rating in NIAB 

trials 

❚ Contains a high proportion of HF’s unique Dual Purpose 

Clover Blend which is based on the most productive 

varieties and designed to achieve the maximum clover 

content and persistency under both cutting and grazing 


MAGICIAN 


CALIBRA 


GLENCAR 


POLIM 



White Clover 





❚ Contains a high proportion of the TRIPLE CROWN 

variety Polim included for its excellent all round 

performance and high NDF content 

❚ High sugar yields ensure excellent palatability and 

improved animal performance 


as they have large seeds and are aggressive establishers 

❚ Based entirely on Perennial Ryegrass varieties with the 

highest grazing yields on UK Recommended Lists 

❚ Very good Crown Rust resistance 

❚ Contains a high proportion of HF Grazing Clover blend 

containing varieties specially selected for their 

production and persistence under grazing 


Livestock Re-introduction 

• After cutting wait until aftermaths have fully 

recovered 

• After grazing leave stock on for 10 days then 

remove and allow sward to recover 

AFTER 

Oveseeding can dramatically 

improve sward performance 

All HF GrassMax mixtures 

are available with 

‘Having used HF 

GrassMax Graze 

before, I tried it with 

iSeed ® in autumn 

2010. I was surprised 

at the growth rate of 

the new seeds and 

also how quickly it 

recovered after the 

first grazing. The field held up very well 

throughout the winter with no poaching. I 

am impressed with the results achieved with 

over-seeding GrassMax Graze with iSeed ®` 

and will certainly be doing it again in future 

years.’ 

Goronwy Roberts,Ty Bol Edern, Pwllheli, 

Gwynedd (Seed supplied by D J Edwards) 

23


H I G H C L O V E R M I X T U R E S 

In recent years interest in clover has 

increased dramatically partly due to 

volatile fertiliser prices but also due to 

an increasing awareness of the huge 

benefits that clover can bring. 

Whilst many of the benefits of clover can be 

achieved by simply increasing the clover level 

in standard mixtures, the key to unlocking the 

full benefits that clover can bring lies in the 

mixture design and the production of a sward 

that will produce a high yield and allow clover 

to thrive at the same time. 

For many years HF Seeds has pioneered the 

development of mixtures for the organic 

farmer and the experience gained can now be 

transferred to the conventional farmer who is 

interested in unlocking the full package of 

benefits that clover can bring. 

The key elements of mixture design 

to create a productive high clover 

sward are 

• Variety selection to ensure the 

production of an open but high yielding 

sward that allows clover to thrive 

• The correct proportion of clover in the 

mix to ensure that the right balance of 

grass and clover in the final sward is 

achieved 

HF 

HIGH CLOVER 

SHORT TERM 

A highly productive two to three year cutting mixture containing 

high yielding Hybrid Ryegrasses and Red Clover. 

STORM 


SOLID 


PERUN 



Red Clover 




❚ Contains only Hybrid Ryegrass for its yield potential and 

its ability to compete with Red Clover in a cutting sward 

❚ Improved for 2012 with the introduction of Perun 

Advanced Italian Ryegrass which is an ideal 

companion grass for Red Clover bringing huge benefits in 

terms of establishment, yield and stress tolerance 

❚ The high sugar content of Tetraploid grasses 

compliments the lower sugar of Red Clover and ensures 

good fermentation in the clamp 

❚ Contains 25% Red Clover content established as the 

optimum level in extensive HF trials 

❚ Capable of at least three silage cuts and aftermath 

grazing 

❚ Rapid regrowth for second and subsequent cuts 

❚ Designed to last for three full production years after the 

year of sowing 

The new HF High Clover range has been 

developed to meet three distinct farm uses 

namely short term intensive cutting, dual 

purpose use and grazing, with recipes 

designed to allow clover to thrive but at the 

same time maintain high yields of quality 

forage at reduced fertiliser rates. 

24


H I G H C L O V E R M I X T U R E S 

HF 

HIGH CLOVER 

DUAL PURPOSE 

A medium term high sugar mixture 

designed for dual purpose use where fields 

are both cut and grazed. 

SOLOMON 


CALIBRA 


TYRCONNELL 


PASTOUR 


ROMARK 


GLENCAR 


KINTYRE 


DOLINA 

Timothy 

AMOS 

Red Clover 


White Clover 




❚ Improved for 2012 by the inclusion of the outstanding 

new variety, Kintyre, in its first year of commercial 

availability, which has the highest yields under both 

cutting and grazing on the 2012 SAC Recommended List 

combined with excellent forage quality. The open growth 

habit of Kintyre also makes it an ideal companion grass 

for white clover 



Pastour included for their high yields and excellent 

forage quality 



fermentation 

❚ Formulated with high yielding but open varieties to 

ensure the correct balance between grass and clover is 

achieved 

❚ Small Red Clover inclusion for high clover yields and 

nitrogen fixation in the early stages of establishment 

❚ High white clover content of HF’s unique Dual Purpose 

Clover Blend to ensure the optimum clover content in 

the final sward 

❚ Clover blend based on the most productive clover 

varieties with high yields under both cutting and 

grazing management 

HF 

HIGH CLOVER 

GRAZE 

A medium to long term grazing mixture 

using persistent grazing varieties of both 

grass and clover and specially formulated 

to ensure the maximum contribution from 

clover. 

SOLOMON 


TYRCONNELL 


ROMARK 


PASTOUR 


CANCAN 


KINTYRE 


MAURICE 



White Clover 


13 - 15 KG/ACRE (32 - 37KG/HECTARE) 

❚ Specially formulated for high sugar and top quality 

forage with high proportions of the TRIPLE CROWN 

varieties Romark, Pastour, Cancan and Maurice 

included for their outstanding grazing performance 

❚ Improved for 2012 by the inclusion of the outstanding 

new variety, Kintyre, in its first year of commercial 

availability, which has very high grazing yields on UK 

Recommended Lists combined with excellent forage 

quality. The open growth habit of Kintyre also makes it 

an ideal companion grass for white clover 

❚ Specially formulated with the top grazing varieties on 

UK Recommended Lists which will also allow clover to 

thrive 

❚ High sugar yield per acre to ensure the maximum 

feeding value and excellent grazing palatability 

❚ Contains Tyrconnell a superb new grazing variety 

recommended throughout the UK 

❚ Formulated with later varieties to have grass at the 

right stage for grazing at turnout 

❚ Contains very persistent varieties of both grass and 

clover capable of withstanding heavy grazing pressure 

❚ High White Clover content of varieties specially 

selected for their yield and persistency under grazing 

management 

25


O R G A N I C S 

HF 65% 

ORGANIC 

SHORT TERM 

A highly productive two to three year mixture based primarily on 

high yielding Hybrid Ryegrasses and containing a high proportion 

of Red Clover designed for two cuts per year followed by aftermath 

grazing. 

PERUN 


SOLID 


MAGICIAN 

Tetraploid Intermediate Ryegrass 

CALIBRA 



Red Clover 



❚ Contains 65% organically produced seed to meet 

2012 organic certification regulations 

❚ Optimum cutting date - first week in June 


❚ Includes the new Advanced Italian Ryegrass variety, 

Perun, which is an ideal companion grass with Red 

Clover combining exceptionally high yields with good 

forage quality and excellent stress tolerance 

❚ Contains a high proportion of Hybrid Ryegrass varieties 

for their yield potential over two to three years 

❚ Very good spring growth and late heading ensures high 


❚ Companion grasses chosen for their open growth habit 

allowing clover to thrive 

❚ Organic content from three different varieties 

❚ 25% Red Clover content established as the optimum level 

in extensive HF trials 

❚ Strong vigorous regrowth for second cut and aftermath 

grazing 

❚ Excellent disease resistance 

‘I have used HF 

organic mixtures with 

red clover for many 

years and I am always 

delighted with the 

results. They cut or 

graze equally well 

producing plenty bulk 

of good quality grass 

and I am currently averaging around 22 

litres of milk from forage. The mixtures also 

seem to be very persistent and last longer 

than expected and as an organic farmer I 

really like HF’s weed free standards’ 

Ryan Smyth, Gortconney Farm, Ballycastle, 

Co Antrim (Seed supplied by Wm A Palmer) 

HF 65% 

ORGANIC 

DUAL PURPOSE 

A high sugar mixture specially designed for 

a dual purpose medium term cutting and/or 

grazing ley for organic management. 

PREMIUM 


CALIBRA 


PASTOUR 


FOXTROT 


GLENCAR 


POLIM 


DOLINA 

Timothy 

PROMESSE 

Timothy 

AMOS 

Red Clover 


White Clover 



❚ Contains 65% organically produced seed to meet 

2012 organic certification regulations 

❚ Optimum cutting date - first week in June 

❚ Contains the TRIPLE CROWN varieties Pastour and Polim 

included for their yields under both cutting and grazing 

and their high NDF content 



fermentation 

❚ Formulated with Tetraploid and Diploid Perennials and 

Timothy to ensure the correct balance between grass and 

clover 

❚ Excellent Crown Rust Resistance from Foxtrot, Pastour 

and Polim all of which receive very high Crown Rust 

resistance ratings on 2012 UK Recommended Lists 

❚ Red Clover inclusion for high clover yields and nitrogen 

fixation in the early stages of establishment 

❚ High White Clover content of HF’s unique Dual Purpose 

Clover blend to ensure the optimum clover content in the 

final sward 

❚ Clover varieties selected for both yield and early spring 

growth to ensure early season nitrogen fixation and 

grass growth 

Largely due to an over-supply of organically 

produced seed in recent years, the area of 

organic seed harvested in 2010 and 2011 

dropped significantly tightening the overall 

supply position and creating shortages of the 

best varieties. Given the supply position going 

forward into 2012 it is likely that some organic 

mixtures being offered to organic farmers 

may contain varieties which are not 

recommended in the UK simply to achieve 

the required 65% organic content. 

HF organic mixtures have been formulated 

following practical experience on farm over 

many years and are specially designed to meet 

the challenges of organic farming and despite 

supply pressures HF Seeds will continue to 

use the very best grass and clover varieties for 

organic systems to ensure that crucial 

performance factors such as yield, forage 

quality and disease resistance are maintained. 

26


O R G A N I C S 

For 2012 all 65% organic mixtures have been 

designed on the basis of their technical 

performance under organic conditions to 

meet the following key criteria: 

• The optimum clover content of varieties 

best suited for organic production 

• Companion grasses which allow clover to 

thrive but at the same time maintain total 

forage yields 

• The achievement of high sugar yields and 

maximum feeding value from the inclusion 

of high sugar varieties 

• The production of top quality high D- 

value and palatable forage 

• Seasonal growth patterns suited to 

organic management, particularly good 

early spring growth with late heading 

• Appropriate disease resistance, in 

particular against Crown Rust which can 

be a major problem in organically 

managed swards affecting production, 

palatability and forage quality 

HF 65% 

ORGANIC 

•GRAZE• 

A medium to long term grazing mixture 

produced from persistent grazing varieties 

of both grass and clover and specially 

formulated to ensure good clover 

development and survival under organic 

grazing management. 

CALIBRA 


TYRCONNELL 


CANCAN 


PASTOUR 


ROMARK 


POLIM 


MAURICE 



White Clover 



❚ Contains 65% organically produced seed to meet 2012 

organic certification regulations 

❚ Specially formulated for high sugar and top quality 

forage with high proportions of the TRIPLE CROWN 

varieties Romark, Pastour, Cancan, Polim and Maurice 

included for their outstanding grazing performance 


value and excellent grazing palatability 

❚ Based on late heading Pasture Perennial Ryegrass 

varieties which are ideal for grazing 

❚ Contains Tyrconnell a superb new grazing variety 

recommended throughout the UK 

❚ Excellent Crown Rust Resistance 

❚ Formulated with Diploid and Tetraploid varieties to 

ensure the correct balance between grass and clover in a 

grazing situation 

❚ Very persistent varieties capable of withstanding heavy 

grazing pressure 

❚ Clover varieties chosen for maximum spring growth to 

ensure early Nitrogen fixation and grass growth 

❚ High content of HF’s unique Grazing Clover Blend 

containing varieties specially selected for their yield and 

persistency under grazing management 

HF 65% 

ORGANIC 

____________ 

REJUVENATOR 

Specially formulated to meet demand for a mixture to rejuvenate 

grass and establish clover in pastures intended for organic 

production. This practice is no substitute for a full reseed but with 

the right mix and attention to detail, it can increase clover levels 

and breathe new life into tired swards. The key to success lies in 

the correct sward preparation before over-sowing and selecting a 

mixture containing varieties with the best possible establishment 

vigour. 

CALIBRA 


GLENCAR 


POLIM 


TIVOLI 


RAJAH 

Red Clover 


White Clover 


10 - 12 KG/ACRE (25 - 30KG/HECTARE) 

❚ Contains 65% organically produced seed to meet 2012 

organic certification regulations 

❚ Contains a high proportion of the TRIPLE CROWN 

variety Polim included for its excellent all round 

performance and high NDF content 



❚ The most effective way to introduce both new grass and 

high sugar into existing pastures 

❚ Grasses based entirely on Tetraploids which have the 

largest seeds and greatest establishment vigour 

❚ Spread of varieties for early, mid and late season growth 

❚ Varieties chosen for their excellent Crown Rust resistance 

❚ Small inclusion of Red Clover for rapid clover 

establishment 

❚ Clover varieties chosen for maximum spring growth to 

ensure early spring nitrogen fixation and grass growth 

❚ Contains a high proportion of persistent and flexible 

White Clover varieties 

27


E N V I R O N M E N T A L M I X T U R E S 

Environmental and Stewardship mixtures now feature on most farms partly due to the availability of funding through 

the Scottish Government’s umbrella Scottish Rural Development Programme (SDRP) but also due to a greater 

awareness of the environment and an increasing desire of farmers to enhance the landscape and improve the 

biodiversity on their farms. 

The main emphasis of the SDRP is on 

• Improving business viability and competitiveness 

• Enhanced landscape and biodiversity 

• Improved water quality 

• Mitigating climate change 

• Supporting thriving rural communities 

Rural Development Contracts form the delivery mechanism for SDRP funding but there are also various other grants covering Crofting, 

Food Processing and Co-operation and Skill Development in addition to the LEADER Initiative and support for Less Favoured Areas.There 

are two tiers within Rural Development Contracts, firstly the non-competitive Land Manager Options which is open to farmers and land 

managers who are registered with IACS and who have a business reference number and secondly, the competitive Rural Priorities scheme. 

The land management options within both schemes are many and varied from the provision of broad based habitats for wide spectrum of 

wild life to much more specific habitats for targeted species such as the Corn Bunting and the Great Yellow Bumblebee. In the development 

of the HF Environmental Range of mixtures, HF Seeds has drawn on many years of experience but has also worked closely with government 

bodies and specific organisations such as RSPB and the Bumblebee Conservation Trust to produce mixtures that offer farmers and 

conservationists more than just the minimum basic requirements laid down by the various schemes. 

WILD BIRD COVER 

Many farmland birds need seeds to survive, however over recent decades, seed rich winter habitats have decreased on farmland causing 

some bird populations to decline. Some of the species at risk such as Buntings,Tree Sparrows and Grey Partridges need annually sown grain 

rich mixes including barley, oats or triticale but other components like mustard and rape are also very useful. Other birds like finches need 

small oil rich seeds such as brassicas and oilseed rape. 

Wild Bird Cover, also known as Unharvested Crops, provides a valuable source of seed to feed wild birds over the winter months and can 

provide shelter from predators at a time when there is limited cover elsewhere. In addition the inclusion of nectar producing species and 

pollen-bearing flowers provides an excellent food source for bees and other insects. One and two year mixtures are available with the two 

year mix providing an excellent chick foraging habitat in its second year of growth. 

HF Mixture Ref : HF NWBS 1 

Annual Wild 

Bird Cover 

This mixture is designed to meet the annual unharvested crops 

option and will provide both cover and a food source for wild birds 

over a one year period. 

Spring Triticale 

Spring Barley 

Linseed 

Quinoa 

Spring Oilseed Rape 

Mustard 

Phacelia 

Fodder Radish 



Corn Bunting need cereal rich mixtures 

Photo courtesy of RSPB 

HF Mixture Ref : HF NWBS 2 

Two Year Wild 

Bird Cover 

This mixture is designed to meet the unharvested crops option and 

will provide a continuing and varied source of food for seed eating 

birds over a two year period. 

Spring Triticale 

Spring Barley 

Kale 

Quinoa 

Red Clover 

Yellow Blossom Clover 



28



GRASS MARGINS 

Grass margins along the edge of fields provide cover for birds such as grey partridge and yellow hammer, an insect rich summer foraging habitat for 

many farmland birds and a suitable nesting habitat for bumblebees and other insects.They also provide useful buffer strips protecting watercourses 

and other natural habitats form soil erosion, fertiliser run-off and spray drift. 

Four HF Grass Margin mixtures are available with different ingredients each delivering the three main objectives of a safe 

nesting site, summer food and winter food and shelter. Please order by the mixture reference code. 

HF 

Mixture ref : HF BGM 1 RC 

Grass Margin 

With Cocksfoot 

This mixture contains cocksfoot and Red Clover and is suitable for 

all the grass margin options but will form a very tussocky sward. 

Hard Fescue 


Timothy 

Tall Fescue 

Cocksfoot 

Red Clover 



This mixture is available without the Red Clover as BGM 1 

HF 

Mixture Ref : HF BGM 2 RC 


No Cocksfoot 

This mixture is suitable for all grass margin options and will 

provide a more open sward with fewer tussocks. 

Hard Fescue 


Timothy 

Sheep’s Fescue 

Chewings Fescue 

Red Clover 



This mixture is available without the Red Clover as BGM 2 

HF Mixture Ref : HF BGM 3 


With Cocksfoot & 

White Clover 

This mixture is suitable for all grass margin options but will 

produce a tall tussocky sward. Red Clover is replaced as the nectar 

producing species by White Clover and Bird’s Foot Trefoil. 

Hard Fescue 


Timothy 

Cocksfoot 

Tall Fescue 

Bird’s Foot Trefoil 

White Clover 



HF Mixture Ref : HF BGM 4 


With Wild Flowers 

This mix is suitable for all grass margin options but includes 

wild flowers. 

Chewings Fescue 

Crested Dogstail 

Smooth Stalked Meadow Grass 

Hard Fescue 


Meadow Fescue 

Tall Oat Grass 

Meadow Foxtail 

Common Bent 

Black Knapweed 

Red Clover 

Bird’s Foot Trefoil 

Oxeye Daisy 

Yarrow 

Sainfoin 

Black Medick 



Corn Bunting is now a rare and localised species and is of 

high conservation concern 

Photo courtesy of Hywel Maggs, RSPB 

29



WILD FLOWER HABITATS 

Dedicated wild flower habitats provide an extremely rich source of nectar and pollen for insects which in turn benefits both insect and bird 

populations. Careful construction of mixtures with the right species can ensure continuity of flowering and consequently the provision of an 

appropriate food source throughout the season. 

HF 

SpeciesRich 

Mixtures for this option should comprise 80-85% non-aggressive 

grasses and 15-20% native wild flowers. To allow flexibility the grass 

and wild flower mixtures are detailed separately and can be combined 

together in any proportion to suit different needs and requirements. 

GRASS COMPONENT (80-85%) 

Sheep’s Fescue 

Red Fescue 

Meadow Fescue 


Hard Fescue 

Common Bent 

WILD FLOWER COMPONENT (15-20%) 

Ribwort Plantain 

Meadow Buttercup 

Black Knapweed 

Common Sorrel 

Oxeye Daisy 

Self Heal 

Red Campion 

White Campion 

Yarrow 

Yellow Rattle 

Black Medick 

RECOMMENDED SOWING RATE OF COMBINED 

GRASS AND WILD FLOWER MIXTURE 


The great yellow bumblebee is now a Scottish speciality 

in the UK. HF Bumblebee provides essential nectar and 

pollen for this and other rare species well and also for 

commoner species important for crop pollination 

Photo courtesy of Bob Dawson, Bumblebee Conservation Trust 

HF 

Bumblebee 

Bumblebees are an endearing and familiar sight in the summer 

months but unfortunately many of our native species are thought to 

be in decline largely due to the loss of suitable habitats. HF Seeds 

has developed the following mix in conjunction with the Bumblebee 

Conservation Trust to provide a flower-rich habitat suitable for both 

bumblebees and a wide diversity of other wildlife. 

Meadow Fescue 


Cocksfoot 

Timothy 

Tall Fescue 


Red Clover 

Alsike 

Birdsfoot Trefoil 

Black Medick 

Phacelia 

Crimson Clover 

Sainfoin 



As this mixture includes non-native species it will flower over a 

three to five year period and for best results it should be cut or 

grazed in the autumn after flowering has finished 

In addition to the above broad based agricultural wild flower mixtures a range of thirteen specialist mixtures each 

designed for different situations is available on request. 

• Wild flower mixtures do best on low fertility sites. Broadleaved and grass weeds and also 

the sown companion grasses in the mixture can be highly competitive on fertile soils and 

can adversely affect the wild flower establishment and subsequent growth. DO NOT USE 

FERTILISER when establishing wild flowers and ensure that competitive weed and grass 

growth is contained by frequent cutting. 

• WEEDS SHOULD BE ERADICATED BEFORE SOWING. Annual weeds can be killed by cultivation 

or by a non-residual contact herbicide. Perennial weeds such as couch, docks, thistles and 

nettles should be eradicated with a non-residual translocated herbicide such as Roundup. 

• An alternative method of weed control, particularly where there is likely to be a heavy 

weed seed burden in the soil, is to use the STALE SEED-BED TECHNIQUE. This involves 

cultivating to stimulate weed germination, allowing the area to green up and then to kill 

the newly germinated weed seedlings by further cultivation or by spraying with a nonresidual 

contact herbicide. This process can be repeated as often as required to reduce the 

soil weed seed burden. 

• The final cultivation should leave a fine, weed free seed-bed which should be consolidated 

by rolling. If possible sowing should take place in warm and moist conditions with the best 

results being obtained in March to May or in August and September. 

CULTURAL INFORMATION FOR WILD FLOWER MIXTURES 

• Ideally the mixture should be remixed before sowing as seeds of varying shapes, sizes and 

textures may have separated during transit. It should be sown evenly at the recommended 

rate. An inert carrier such as sand can make the seed easier to distribute. 

• Rake the seed lightly and firm the soil by treading or preferably rolling, to ensure that 

the seed comes into contact with moisture in the soil and to prevent the seed-bed from 

drying out. 

• When the seed comes into contact with moisture in the soil it will germinate and from 

this point it is important to prevent the area from drought as very dry conditions may 

cause the young newly germinated seedlings to die. 

• During the first year after sowing, the establishing sward should be cut every 6 to 8 weeks 

or as necessary, to prevent the grass overtaking the slower growing wild flowers. WHERE 

POSSIBLE ALL CUTTINGS SHOULD BE REMOVED. The first cut should take place in March or 

April following an autumn sowing or in May or June following a spring sowing. The last 

cut should be in late September or early October. 

• In subsequent years the area should be cut in the early spring and then cut again in October 

after all the wild flower seeds have been shed. IF POSSIBLE CUTTINGS SHOULD BE REMOVED. 

30


R O O T A N D F O D D E R C R O P S 

SOWING RATES, RELATIVE YIELD AND ENERGY LEVELS OF FODDER CROPS 

Crop Sowing Rate Sowing Utilisation Fresh Yield Dry Matter DM Yield DM Energy Energy Yield 

per acre period period tonnes/acre content % tonnes/acre content MJ/kg per acre ‘000MJ 

Fodder Beet 50,000 seeds March - April Harvested 25 - 35 17 4.2 - 6.0 12.5 52 - 75 

and clamped 

October onwards 

Swedes Graded seed May October - March 28 - 35 11 3.0 - 3.8 12.9 35 - 49 

Approx 250 gms 

see varieties 

Turnips Graded seed May - June October - January 24 - 30 9 2.2 - 2.7 11.2 25 - 30 

Approx 250 gms 

Kale 3 kg broadcast May - June October - February 20 - 30 14 2.8 - 4.2 11.0 31 - 46 

2 kg drilled 

Forage Rape 4 - 5 kg broadcast June - August Sept - December 12 - 15 12 1.5 - 1.8 10.5 16 - 19 

3 - 4 kg drilled 

Stubble Turnips 3 kg broadcast May - August 12 weeks after 15 - 18 9.5 1.5 - 1.8 11.6 17 - 21 

2 kg drilled sowing 

FODDER BEET 

Fodder Beet is grown as a main root crop, which requires similar husbandry to sugar beet. It can produce substantial yields of high quality 

fodder and is an excellent supplement to grass silage. The roots are very palatable to stock and have superb feed quality. Specialist 

harvesting equipment is required to lift the roots and storage is required unless they are strip grazed in situ. 

Medium dry matter varieties tend to have a higher percentage of root above ground and can be lifted with a top lifter and therefore 

have a relatively low dirt tare. These highly palatable roots can be fed whole to stock. High dry matter varieties tend to sit further in the 

ground and require a sugar beet harvester to lift them. Due to the higher dirt tare and hardness of the root, these varieties may need 

to be chopped and washed before feeding. After wilting, the tops may be fed to stock and can contribute a further yield of 3-4 tonnes 

of protein-rich dry matter per hectare. 

Variety Alpes Magnum Kyros Troya 

Clean dry matter yield 107 107 99 103 

(100=15.2t/ha) 

As field fresh yield 105 96 100 100 

(100=100.4t/ha) 

Dry matter content (%) 17.3 19.3 16.8 17.5 

Establishment 6.9 7.4 7 6.9 

(9=good 1=poor) 

Bolting (%) 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.6 

Top size 7.1 6.5 7.2 6.0 

(9=large 1=small) 

% of Root in ground 67 78 67 62 

Cleanliness 7 6.4 6.7 6.6 

(9=best 1=worst) 

Rust 6 4 4 6 


Ramularia n/a 7 4 5 


Root Colour Yellow White Yellow Yellow 

Fodder Beet Yield and Feed Quality 

Average dry matter yield 13 - 15 tonnes/ha 

Average fresh yields 

80 - 100 tonnes/ha 

Dry matter 12 - 19% 

Crude protein 12 - 13% 

Digestibility value 

78D 

Metabolisable energy 

12.5 - 13.5MJ/kg DM 

ALPES 

MAGNUM 

KYROS 

TROYA 

Alpes has exceptional all round 

characteristics and is one of the 

highest yielding and cleanest 

fodder beets available. It benefits 

from a large top size and has 33% 

of its yellow root above the 

ground allowing for easy lifting. 

Good resistance to bolting. 

Magnum has a consistent root 

size and reliable dry matter yields 

from white roots. It is very 

palatable with a high proportion 

of its roots in the ground and due 

to its high dry matter content it is 

more frost resistant than other 

varieties. 

Kyros is a very consistent, high 

yielding variety producing a clean, 

very palatable and digestible 

yellow root. 

Troya produces high yield of 

medium dry matter. It has very 

good establishment and bolting 

resistance and has a high 

proportion of its yellow root in 

the ground. 

31



SWEDES 

Swedes grow on a wide range of soil types and can be grazed in situ or lifted for stockfeed or as a cash crop. Whatever the intended 

use, the dry matter content is one of the most important characters to consider. Low dry matter types are softer and are more suitable 

for early use whereas the high dry matter types are more winter hardy and therefore better suited to later utilisation. For cash cropping 

fresh yield, shape and colour are important considerations with purple skinned, globe shaped roots generally considered the most 

marketable type. 

AIRLIE 

For early to intermediate use Airlie produces high fresh yields of 

uniform globe shaped roots with purple skin and creamy white flesh. 

Good general disease resistance. 

RUTA OTOFTE 

A very popular purple skinned variety with cream coloured flesh 

suitable for both fodder and culinary use. A medium dry matter 

variety with good winter hardiness and Mildew resistance. 

MARIAN 

A good culinary use variety with an attractive purple globe and 

cream coloured flesh. With its medium dry matter content Marian 

is suitable for intermediate use but has slightly lower yield potential 

than other varieties. 

LOMOND 

GOWRIE 

A new high yielding variety bred by SCRI, Gowrie produces very 

uniform roots with purple skin and yellow flesh making it ideal for 

the culinary market. Good Club Root and Powdery Mildew 

resistance. 

KENMORE 

A bronze skinned, white fleshed variety with very high fresh yields 

best suited as stock feed. Kenmore is early maturing and with its 

medium dry matter content and very good winter hardiness, it 

allows for a very wide window of utilisation. 

INVITATION 

A high yielding purple/bronze skinned variety with a high dry matter 

content and very good winter hardiness making it suitable for late 

use. Invitation has excellent resistance to both Club Root and 

Mildew and it also produces large leaves for extra grazing potential. 

A new and extremely high yielding variety bred by SCRI, Lomond 

has purple skin and yellow flesh and has good Club Root and 

Powdery Mildew resistance. Lomond is slightly less uniform than 

Gowrie and consequently is the better stock feed variety. 

KALE 

Kale is the highest yielding of all the leafy forage brassicas and has excellent feeding value and a high crude protein content. It can 

provide a long and flexible period of utilisation and can be grazed in situ, cut and carted to housed livestock or ensiled as big bale 

kaleage. There are however big differences in terms of winter hardiness (traditional marrowstem varieties tend to have poorer winter 

hardiness) and varieties should be chosen to suit the utilisation period. For maximum yields kale requires good fertility and a pH of at 

least 6.0. 

CALEDONIAN 

Caledonian is a very high yielding marrowstem type with good 

winter hardiness and excellent club root resistance. Its high yield and 

good lodging resistance makes it ideal for utilisation by dairy or beef 

cattle from September to February and it can be strip or zero 

grazed. 

THOUSAND HEAD 

Thousand Head is a slender stemmed variety with leafy foliage and 

very high D-value and dry matter content. It has excellent winter 

hardiness and is therefore ideal for use after Christmas. 

MARIS KESTREL 

A short, leafy, hybrid variety that is high in digestible dry matter 

particularly in the stem. Maris Kestrel has good frost resistance, 

excellent leaf retention and is not susceptible to lodging. 

GRÜNER ANGELITER 

Gruner Angeliter is a marrowstem type producing very high fresh 

yields. With its high yield, good winter hardiness and excellent 

feeding quality, Grüner Angeliter is well suited for stock feed use, 

but with its tall growth and high leaf canopy it is also ideal for 

game cover. 

32



FORAGE RAPE 

Rape is fast growing and will tolerate poorer fertility conditions than Kale. When sown as a catch crop between June and August it will 

provide valuable autumn and winter grazing. It has a wide sowing window and utilisation period and produces a digestible and high 

energy crop, ideal for finishing lambs. 

HOBSON 

A very leafy and high yielding variety with good digestibility. Hobson 

has excellent resistance to mildew which can often seriously reduce 

yield and affect palatability. 

SPARTA 

Sparta is a high yielding late flowering rape with the huge advantage 

of having Club Root tolerance enabling it to be sown where Club 

Root is a potential problem. Sparta’s late flowering habit allows for 

sowing flexibility offering an extension to the feeding period. As with 

other forage rapes Sparta matures ten to twelve weeks after sowing. 

EMERALD 

A rapidly establishing medium to tall palatable variety with above 

average dry matter yields and good general disease resistance. 

ZOOM BRASSICA MIXTURE 

A blend of Winfred Hybrid Brassica and Forage Rape, Zoom is a 

very vigorous and quick growing mixture which is ideal for replacing 

failed crops or for patching earlier sown crops which are struggling. 

High seedling vigour ensures a reliable establishment of a high leaf 

to stem ratio crop with good disease and bolting resistance. 

STUBBLE TURNIPS 

Stubble Turnips provide palatable and digestible fodder for grazing 10 – 12 weeks after sowing. They can be sown at any time with the 

required utilisation period determining the sowing date. Stubble Turnips are less winter hardy than other brassicas and should be used 

before Christmas. Varieties differ in their leaf to root ratio with leafy types providing better anchorage and winter hardiness than bulb 

types which produce larger but relatively low dry matter roots 

TYFON 

A fast growing leafy type with some regrowth potential but it can 

be susceptible to bolting when sown too early.Tyfon has small bulbs 

and produces approximately 80% of its yield from leaf. Good root 

anchorage and reasonable frost tolerance. 

RONDO 

A high yielding leafy type but with a higher proportion of root and 

larger bulbs than Tyfon. Rondo has good disease resistance, excellent 

root anchorage and above average winter hardiness for a stubble 

turnip. 

VOLLENDA 

A highly digestible, late tetraploid variety noted for its speed of 

growth, overall yield and resistance to bolting. Vollenda is a bulbing 

type with a leaf to bulb ratio in the region 30 : 70. 

BARKANT 

Producing slightly smaller roots than Vollenda, Barkant is a bulbing 

variety producing very high yields of digestible dry matter. 

Reasonably winter hardy for a stubble turnip. 

SAMSON 

Samson is a high yielding, bulbing variety with a high proportion of 

its total yield produced by large, purple topped, palatable roots 

which grow well out of the ground for better utilisation. 

Please note that with all Brassica crops, stock should be introduced gradually over a two week period and an area of 

grassland should be available for animals to return to. Water and hay or straw should also be freely available. 

33


G A M E C R O P S 

The single most important factor in selecting a game crop is the location in which it is to be sown. Almost by 

definition, game crops are usually required in less fertile, exposed and often shady areas which are unsuitable for 

many of the more exotic game crop species. 

Other factors which need to be considered are the purpose of the crop (cover only, cover and food, brood rearing etc), the time of sowing 

and the intended duration of the crop, the climatic conditions it will be subjected to and lastly, whether the area to be sown is included in 

any government schemes as the scheme regulations may have an impact on crop choice. 

Crop Optimum Sowing Rate (kgs/acre) Comments 

Sowing Period Drilled Broadcast 

Kale May / June 1.5 2.0 Requires good fertility and high pH 

Forage Rape July / September 2.5 3.5 More tolerant of poorer fertility than kale 

Texsel Greens May - July 2.5 - Not suitable for northern climates 

Jonty August / September 1.5 2.5 Fast growing but not winter hardy 

Quinoa May / June 2.0 - Requires minimum pH of 6.0 

Quinoa + Kale May /June 2.5 - Requires good fertility and high pH 

Winter Triticale Before end February 75 - Only suitable for early sowing in more northern climates where 

seed will vernalise 

Spring Triticale March / April 75 - Use in milder climates or for later sowing to ensure seed 

production 

Holdfast Canary Grass April / May 2.5 - Very slow establishment 

Reed Canary Grass April / May 2.5 - Suited to more northern climates 

Triple Maize Blend April 45,000 seeds per acre Not suited for Scotland or over 350 metres above sea level 

White Millet April / May 10 - Most suited to warm southern climates 

Millgame Millet Mix 

(White + Red Millet) 

April / May 10 - General purpose throughout England & Wales 

Ambush Millet Mix 

(White + Reed Millet) 

April / May 5 - Good winter hardiness and better suited to northern areas 

Buckwheat May 20 50 Requires warm and sunny growing conditions 

Giant Sorghum April / May 12 - Useful cover and shelter crop in warm, dry areas 

Dwarf Sorghum April / May 8 - Used as shelter crop 

Yellow Blossom Clover April to July 4 - Useful on its own or in mixtures for 2 years or more 

Mustard August / September 3 5 Not winter hardy, for late sowing or emergency use 

Stubble Turnips August / September 2 3 Not winter hardy, for late sowing or emergency use 

Fodder Radish August / September 3 - Not winter hardy, for late sowing or emergency use 

KALE 

Kale can provide excellent cover but is very sensitive to adverse 

conditions.The variety Thousand Head is ideal as it has outstanding 

winter hardiness and allows game to move freely under the leaf 

canopy. Caledonian will provide some Club Root resistance but 

continuous brassicas should be avoided where possible. Sowing rates 

should be reduced to avoid thick crops which restrict game 

movement and drilling in rows allowing easy access for game and the 

opportunity to control birds on a shoot day may be preferable. 

FORAGE RAPE 

Forage Rape is a versatile, easy to grow cover crop and is a good 

alternative where Kale has been unsuccessful or for sowing later in 

the season. Although it still needs a reasonable pH, it will grow on 

more acidic soils than Kale and with its rapid growth, it is better 

equipped to withstand rabbit and pigeon damage. 

QUINOA 

Quinoa is an excellent break crop from brassicas and can provide 

both good cover and a very palatable and nutritious food source as 

it is a prolific seed producer capable of shedding over 1 tonne of 

seed per acre during the shooting season. For successful 

establishment Quinoa requires a minimum pH in the range 6.0 to 

6.5. An excellent combination of both cover and game food can be 

achieved by sowing alternate strips of Quinoa and Kale or by 

combining them together in a single mixture. 

SORGHUM 

Available in dwarf and giant forms growing to 2 and 3 metres tall 

respectively, both types of Sorghum are used to provide a warm 

holding area for birds adjacent to food crops like maize. Giant 

Sorghum is particularly useful in dry areas as it is very deep rooting. 

34


G A M E C R O P S 

TRITICALE 

BUCKWHEAT 

Cereals are a valuable food source in game mixtures but Triticale is 

particularly useful as it will tolerate poorer fertility and can survive 

where other cereals will not. Although no game crop will survive a 

heavy rabbit burden, Triticale can be useful where rabbits are a 

problem as once established it can often outpace rabbit damage. 

Triticale is available in both winter and spring forms. Winter varieties 

need to vernalise after sowing or they will not produce seed heads 

and consequently are more suitable for northern climates and should 

be sown by the end of February. For later sowing dates only spring 

varieties should be considered. Like Quinoa, the role of Triticale is 

best as a food crop in a strip adjacent to a cover crop like kale or 

rape but the difference in sowing dates and fertility tolerance may 

make this impractical. In this case Triticale on its own can provide 

good cover for most of the shooting season. 

CANARY GRASS 

Holdfast Canary Grass (Phalaris Aquatica) and its native version 

Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris Arundinacia) are strong growing hardy 

perennials with vigorous creeping rhizomes. The native Reed Canary 

Grass is better suited to harsher climates. Both are deep rooting and 

capable of withstanding a wide range of conditions and once 

established can provide long term game cover for up to 10 years. 

Both types of Canary Grass are slow in establishment particularly in 

cold conditions and can suffer badly in their first year from 

competition from weeds and weed grasses. As a result both types 

should be sown in 30 to 36 inch rows allowing inter-row weed 

control. Once established topping will encourage vigorous tillering. 

MAIZE 

Maize is an excellent cover and food crop with a good canopy and 

open area underneath. It is also ideal for rotating with brassicas to 

reduce the build up of Club Root and it will thrive throughout most 

of England and Wales albeit it should not be sown over 350 metres 

above sea level. Game Maize is supplied as a blend of three varieties 

to provide good standing power, low cob carriage allowing easy 

access by birds and a spread of maturity, ensuring cob availability 

throughout the season. Additional appeal can be added by sowing 

an adjacent crop of Millet counteracting draughtiness later in the 

season and also providing an additional food source 

YELLOW BLOSSOM CLOVER 

Yellow Blossom Clover is a self-generating legume that will last up to 

three years and as such can be sown on its own or included as a 

very useful component in Wild Bird Cover mixtures which are 

intended for two years duration. It has excellent early vigour with 

good seed production and can reach heights of up to 6 feet with stiff 

woody stems which allow easy bird movement below its dense 

canopy. 

Buckwheat is a thick, bushy, seed producing plant often sown in 

conjunction with other crops to provide both food and cover. It is 

particularly appealing to deer, pheasants, partridges and bees and 

other insects and grows best in warm, sunny, south facing conditions. 

It should not be sown until all risk of frost has passed. Maturity is 

reached in around three months and seed will be shed over a period 

of several weeks with the remaining stubble capable of holding birds 

until well into January. 

MILLET 

Millet has long been recognised as a valuable game food crop and is 

available in three different forms:White, Red and Strong Reed Millet. 

Each has different characteristics in terms of maturity, growth habit, 

winter hardiness and seed production. White Millet is the most 

prolific seed producer but has relatively poor winter hardiness 

whereas Reed Millet has poor seed production but is very winter 

hardy with Red Millet falling somewhere between the two. To 

exploit the benefits of the different types, game millet is supplied in 

three different forms: White Millet on its own for seed production 

in warm southern climates, a Red and White Millet Blend for general 

purpose use and a White and Reed Millet blend for seed production 

and good winter hardiness in colder areas. 

CATCH CROPS FOR LATE SOWING 

Late sowings of game crops severely restrict crop choice and are 

only suitable for cover as there is insufficient time for seed 

production before the onset of winter. Fast growing crops such as 

Mustard, Stubble Turnips and Fodder Radish can be sown as late as 

September and will provide cover within 8 weeks. These crops 

however are generally not winter hardy and should not be relied on 

to provide cover beyond Christmas.The suitability of each of these 

crops varies for different situations and advice should be sought on 

the most appropriate choice. 

GAME COVER MIXTURES 

Whilst the above species have been considered individually, it is 

possible to mix different combinations together to provide both 

cover and an attractive food source in one game crop. As with the 

single species the choice of mixture components will depend 

entirely on location, climate and soil fertility and where there is any 

doubt, a mixture which is tolerant of a wide range of growing 

conditions should be selected. 

35

DISTRIBUTORS OF HF SEEDS IN SCOTLAND AND NORTHERN ENGLAND 

W & A Geddes Ltd 

7 River Street, Wick, Caithness, KW1 5EB Tel : 01955 602207 

Victoria Road, Brora, Sutherland, KW9 6LN Tel : 01408 621220 

Scotgrain Agriculture Ltd 

Alexander Fleming House, 8 Southfield, Elgin, Morayshire, IV30 6GR Tel : 01343 543281 

Unit 3, Markethill Industrial Estate,Turriff, Aberdeenshire, AB53 4QY Tel : 01888 568448 

Elliot Industrial Estate, Arbroath, Angus, DD11 2NJ Tel : 01241 435421 

Agrii (formerly UAP and Masstock) 

Prospect Building, Montgarrie, Alford, Aberdeenshire, AB33 8BA Tel : 01975 563200 

Openfield 

Whiterashes, Newmachar, Aberdeenshire, AB21 0QL Tel : 01651 882244 

Frontier Agriculture Ltd 

Kingseat, Newmachar, Aberdeenshire, AB51 0UE Tel : 01651 862408 

Jura Suite, King James Vl Business Centre, Riverview Business Park, Tel : 01738 500570 

Friarton Road, Perth, Perthshire, PH2 8DY 

Windmill Way West, Ramparts Park, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland,TD15 1TB Tel : 01289 330303 

Carrs Billington Agriculture Ltd 

Stirling Agricultural Centre, Hill of Drip, Stirling, Stirlingshire, FK9 4RN Tel : 01786 474826 

Stirling Road, Milnathort, Kinross, Kinross-shire, KY13 9UZ Tel : 01577 862381 

Haweswater Road, Penrith Industrial Estate, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 9EH Tel : 01768 862160 

Lakeland Agricultural Centre, Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 0QQ Tel : 01900 824105 

R H Miller (Agricultural) Ltd 

Fordel, Lauder Road, Dalkeith, Midlothian, EH22 2PH Tel : 0131 660 3921 

Tweedview, South Park Estate, Peebles, Peebles-shire, EH45 9ED Tel : 01721 720711 

4 – 8 Commercial Road, Hawick, Roxburghshire,TD9 7AQ Tel : 01450 370050 

Clark & Weir Ltd 

Glengonnar, Coulter, Biggar, Lanarkshire, ML12 6PZ Tel : 01899 220096 

Donald McGillvary Farm Supplies 

Woodcroft, Polinard, Comrie, Perthshire, PH6 2HJ Tel : 07880 502272 

Ralph Bova Farm Supplies 

69 Lochlea Drive, Ayr, Ayrshire, KA7 3DS Tel : 07770 810672 

Nutriscot Ltd 

PO Box 26358, Ayr, Ayrshire, KA7 9BR Tel : 0560 345 7927 

Solway Agriculture Ltd 

Glasgow Road, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire, DG11 2SE Tel : 01576 204124 

South West Seeds Ltd 

Kilfaddoch, Closeburn,Thornhill, Dumfriesshire, DG3 5HW Tel : 01848 33141 

Reg Thornthwaite Agricultural Supplies 

Fern Bank Cottage, Fern Bank Lane, Low Seaton, Workington, Cumbria, CA14 1LW Tel : 07713 711213 

Marketed by: 

Imperial Dock 

Thorn Farm 

Leith Docks 

Inkberrow 

Edinburgh 

Worcestershire 

EH6 7DR 

WR7 4LJ 

Tel: 0131 555 4044 Tel: 01386 791101 

Fax: 0131 555 4035 Fax: 01386 792216 www.dlf.co.uk 

CONTACT HF SEEDS ON 0131 555 4044 FOR ALL YOUR FORAGE SOLUTIONS 

DLF Trifolium Ltd V.A.T. Registration No 650 3086 60 Registered in England & Wales Company Registration No. 2971802 

Registered Office Thorn Farm Inkberrow Worcestershire WR7 4LJ

Grass and Fodder Crops Grass and Fodder Crops ... - dlf-trifolium

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