QUALITY GRASS SEED MIXTURES - 2021 www.downland.co.uk
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QUALITY GRASS SEED MIXTURES
AND FORAGE CROPS
2021
www.downland.co.uk
Contents Page Downland is delighted to bring to you our New 2021
Quality Grass Seed guide.
Downland Quality Standards 2
Downland Fibre ME 3 Within this guide we aim to provide you with the Best advice on what we believe, are the
best range of Quality Grass Seed mixtures.
Downland Legume and Herbs 4
Downland Mixture Selector 5 We continue to focus on providing mixtures which naturally produce higher levels of digestible
fibre (Fibre ME) along with selecting varieties for yield, persistency, and disease resistance.
Short Term Mixtures 7
All Downland Quality Grass Seed mixtures are formulated solely using varieties carefully
Medium Term Mixtures 8 selected from the Grass and Clover Recommended lists for across the UK.
Medium/Long Term Mixtures 9
For 2021 we have also introduced a new Herbal Meadows mixture which complies with GS4
Long Term Mixtures 10 Countryside Stewardship. Not only will this mixture feed a large number of different species of
High Clover / Organic Mixtures 14 livestock, it is also an excellent soil improver, please see page 4 & 16 for further details.
The combination of the Best Products and the Best advice from Downland and our
Downland Specialist Mixtures 15 experienced retailers will help you maximise forage potential. If you are still unsure which
Downland Herbal Mixtures 16 product would best suit your needs and would like further guidance, please contact your local
Downland retailer or Downland to discuss further; 01228 564498 bestadvice@downland.co.uk
Downland Overseeding 17
Downland Root and Forage crops 19 Stuart Stamper
Operations Manager
01
Downland Quality Standards
Quality grass seed is the foundation of a good sward. To ensure the best
possible sward performance Downland Grass Leys are formulated using
only the very best varieties sourced to the highest possible standards.
The benefit of sowing high germination Downland seed could be as much as 4.01kgs
more live seed per 20kg bag, equivalent to 2.8 kgs more live seed sown per acre or 475
extra live seed per square metre for a mixture such as Downland Versatile.
UK Minimum Downland Downland Downland
Species (%) Minimum Actual 2020 Germination
Germination Germination Germination Benefit
Italian Ryegrass 75 90 94 19%
Perennial
80 90 95 15%
Ryegrass
Timothy 80 90 92 12%
The actual germinations achieved in 2020 are equivalent to a saving of about £13.85/
acre at 2021 prices, but the real value is better establishment leading to thicker swards,
with many more plants per m2.
02
Downland Fibre ME
Every 1% increase in cell wall digestibility gives around 0.25 Fibre ME is bred to have
litre more milk per cow per day. more readily digested cell
wall fibre. This releases more
With a range of 3 to 6% higher digestibility in the FIBRE ME energy to the animal and
varieties you should expect between 0.75 and 1.5 litres more increases live weight gain or
milk per cow per day when she is eating 100% FIBRE ME yields more milk as a result.
varieties. On average, this would be worth 30p/cow/day.
Beef cattle and lambs also benefit from eating FIBRE ME grass
FIBRE ME Varieties
varieties, however it is less easy to quantify, as the energy Perennial Ryegrass
required for maintenance varies at different liveweights so Festulolium Perseus
much more than with a dairy cow, where we can assume a body Elyria
Intermediate Diploid
weight of approximately 650 kg. Nifty
Intermediate Tetraploid Diwan
Scan the QR code Cancan
to watch our Late Diploid
Youtube video Smile
about FIBRE ME
Nashota
Late Tetraploid
Thegn
03Downland Legume and Herb Rich swards
Legume and herb-rich mixtures provide an
abundance of productive and diverse grazing for many Downland Legume and
classes of livestock, as well as being a great habitat and Herb Rich Mixture (GS4)
food source for pollinators and invertebrates. and other herbal leys
These increasingly popular mixtures also contribute to
This mixture is formulated
soil organic matter levels and increase the soils resilience
to drought and indeed water logging. The inclusion of a to comply with the English
range of deep rooting grasses, herbs and legumes means Countryside Stewardship
that the overall root mass is greater than a normal grass Scheme (mid tier and
sward and this leads to greater availability of many trace higher tier) for GS4 –
elements as well as better botanical diversity for the Legume and Herb Rich
livestock. mixtures.
NEW
The current payment is
Some of the herbs have high tannin levels and this may 2021
£309.00/hectare/ year.
have some anthelmintic effect, but we would always
recommend checking the worm burden to make sure
Sowing rate of 14/15 kg/acre 35/37 kg/ha
you are treating any worm problems. The legumes will
fix nitrogen for the companion grasses and herbs, so “in For mixtures please see page 16
season” use of nitrogen fertiliser is not usually required.
04Downland Mixture Selector
Designed to help answer many of the common questions in mixture selection, however if in doubt,
please contact your local Downland retailer for further advice.
Downland
Intensive Protein
cutting with Plus
red clover? page 7
1-3 yrs
Intensive Downland
cutting? Silage
page 7
How long
will the 4-8 yrs How will it be used?
mixture be
down for?
Downland
Over Long Stay
8 yrs page 12
05NEW
Downland Legume and herb page 16
Herbal grazing?
Downland herbal page 16
Intensive grazing? Downland Dairy page 13
Grazing
Persistent grazing? Downland Long Stay page 12
Downland
Cutting Forager
page 9
We also offer specialist
Downland mixtures for
Cut and Graze High Clover/Organic Page 14
page 10 Equipaddock Page 15
Herbal leys Page 16
Downland Overseeding Page 17
Dual Purpose Versatile
page 11
Downland
Intensive
06
DISCLAIMER: Any information provided in this catalogue is given in good faith and to the best of our existing
knowledge. Any advice should therefore be taken as a general guide only and not relied upon for all conditions and
page 8 circumstances. Downland cannot accept any legal liability for information given in this guide. In any instance where there
are shortages of specified varieties Downland reserves the right to substitute equivalent varietiesShort Term Mixtures
Downland Silage Downland Protein Plus
2-3 years intensive cutting for maximum quality 3 years intensive cutting red clover mixture for
silage production high protein silage
• Maximum yield and quality under an intensive • A drought tolerant mixture that can be cut up to
cutting regime 4 times per year
• Very good spring growth for high quality silage • Superb aftermath grazing for finishing non-
yields at early first cut dates breeding stock
• The combination of Tetraploid Ryegrasses and • Considerably improves the physical, chemical and
Festulolium give a fast production of a good biological health of the soil
quality silage, with high sugar content
ALAMO ASTONCRUSADER TETRAGRAZE LOFA
Italian Ryegrass Tetraploid Hybrid Tetraploid Hybrid Hybrid Festulolium
Ryegrass Ryegrass
HUNTER DOWNLAND RED
Tetraploid Italian LOFA ASTONCRUSADER CLOVER BLEND
Ryegrass Hybrid Festulolium Tetraploid Hybrid Red Clover
Ryegrass
TETRAGRAZE PERSEUS
Tetraploid Hybrid Festulolium PERSEUS
Ryegrass Festulolium
07 Sow from 14 - 15kg/acre 35-37kg/hectareMedium Term Mixtures
ASTONCRUSADER NASHOTA
Tetraploid Hybrid Tetraploid Late
Ryegrass Perennial Ryegrass Downland Intensive
NOLWEN THEGN 4-5 years of high output cutting or grazing
Tetraploid Intermediate Tetraploid Late
Perennial Ryegrass Perennial Ryegrass
PENSEL LOFA
Tetraploid Intermediate Hybrid Festulolium • Specifically designed to be very high yielding
Perennial Ryegrass
• Includes varieties with extra energy from
digestible fibre
• Designed to be very drought tolerant
• Excellent sward density and persistency
Sow from 14 - 15kg/acre 35-37kg/hectare 08Medium/Long Term Mixtures
NIFTY SEAGOE
Intermediate Perennial Tetraploid
Downland Forager Ryegrass Intermediate
Perennial Ryegrass
4-6 years of Silage followed by aftermath BOYNE
grazing Intermediate Perennial NASHOTA
Ryegrass Tetraploid Late
Perennial
AGASKA Ryegrass
• Top quality silage from high sugar varieties
Intermediate Perennial TODDINGTON
• Designed for maximum silage yields over 2-4 cuts Ryegrass Late Perennial
• A clover option is also available PENSEL Ryegrass
Tetraploid
• More production from FIBRE ME varieties Intermediate
NIFTY and NASHOTA Perennial Ryegrass
09 Sow from 14 - 15kg/acre 35-37kg/hectareLong Term Mixtures
AGASKA SMILE
Intermediate Perennial Late Perennial Ryegrass
Ryegrass
NASHOTA Downland Cut & Graze
NIFTY Late Perennial 4-8 years dual purpose ley
Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass
Ryegrass
DOWNLAND DUAL
PENSEL PURPOSE CLOVER
Tetraploid Intermediate BLEND • Our biggest selling mixture across the UK
Perennial Ryegrass White Clover • High yielding under both grazing and cutting
SEAGOE
Tetraploid Intermediate • Quality is maintained with high Fibre ME
Perennial Ryegrass varieties
TODDINGTON • Outstanding sward density from the diploids,
Tetraploid Intermediate but also from NASHOTA, the most dense
Perennial Ryegrass tetraploid we have seen
Sow from 15kg/acre 37kg/hectare 10Long Terms Mixtures
AGASKA NASHOTA
Intermediate Perennial Tetraploid Late Perennial
Downland Versatile Ryegrass Ryegrass
7 years + dual purpose use NIFTY ALFONSO
Intermediate Perennial Tetraploid Late Perennial
Ryegrass Ryegrass
SMILE DOLINA
• Later heading mixture to maintain season long Late Perennial Ryegrass Timothy
quality
TODDINGTON DOWNLAND DUAL
• High yielding and disease resistant Late Perennial Ryegrass PURPOSE CLOVER BLEND
White Clover
• Timothy inclusion for early growth and
palatability
• Packed full of highly digestible FIBRE ME
varieties
11 Sow from 15kg/acre 37kg/hectareNIFTY SMILE
Intermediate Perennial
Ryegrass
Late Perennial Ryegrass Downland Long Stay
NASHOTA Permanent general purpose ley with a long
AGASKA Tetraploid growing season
Intermediate Perennial Late Perennial
Ryegrass Ryegrass
SEAGOE DOLINA • Designed for persistency and winter hardiness
Tetraploid Intermediate Timothy
Perennial Ryegrass • Tremendous season long production
DOWNLAND GRAZING
PENSEL CLOVER BLEND • Higher clover, Timothy and diploid ryegrasses to
Tetraploid Intermediate White Clover thicken the bottom of the sward
Perennial Ryegrass • Replaces Downland Sheep and Long Term Graze
TODDINGTON
Late Perennial Ryegrass
Sow from 14-16kg/acre 35-40kg/hectare 12ELYRIA CANCAN
Downland Dairy and Intermediate Perennial
Ryegrass
Late Perennial Ryegrass
NASHOTA
Intensive graze NIFTY Tetraploid late Perennial
Long term intensive grazing Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass
Ryegrass
THEGN
TRIWARWIC Tetraploid Late Perennial
• The long term grazing mixture for good grass Tetraploid Intermediate Ryegrass
managers Perennial Ryegrass
DOWNLAND GRAZING
• Very leafy, dense sward for NZ style AYR grazing SMILE CLOVER BLEND
Late Intermediate White Clover
• Later heading and easily grazed to low residuals Perennial Ryegrass
• High yielding, high density and outstanding
speed of regrowth
13 Sow from 14-16kg/acre 35-40kg/hectareHigh Clover Mixtures
Also available with organic seed
Downland High Clover Downland high clover
Dual Pupose Long Term Graze
Also available as 70% organic seed mixtures A permanant mixture for cattle and sheep grazing
• High yields of quality silage and excellent • Outstanding Sward density and winter hardiness
aftermath grazing
• Very palatable, leafy sward to maximise grazing
• Small inclusion of Red Clover to boost production intakes
in years 1 and 2
• High white clover inclusion to feed the
• May be grazed before closing up for conservation companion grasses
AGASKA NASHOTA NIFTY THEGN
Intermediate Tetraploid Late Intermediate Tetraploid Late
Perennial Ryegrass Perennial Ryegrass Perennial Ryegrass Perennial Ryegrass
PENSEL DOLINA AGASKA ASPECT
Intermediate Timothy Intermediate Tetraploid Late
Perennial Ryegrass Perennial Ryegrass Perennial Ryegrass
DOWNLAND DUAL
EVOCATIVE PURPOSE EVOCATIVE DOWNLAND GRAZING
Tetraploid Intermediate White Clover Late Perennial Ryegrass CLOVER
Perennial Ryegrass White Clover
DOWNLAND RED
CLOVER BLEND GLENROYAL
ASTON CHIEFTAIN Late Perennial Ryegrass
Late Perennial Ryegrass Red Clover
ASTON CHIEFTAIN
THEGN Late Perennial Ryegrass
Tetraploid Late
Perennial Ryegrass
Sow from 14-16kg/acre 35-40kg/hectare 14Downland Specialist mixtures
Downland Downland
Equipaddock Multipurpose Landscaper
Long term horse grazing and haymaking Designed for low mainentence areas
• Low sugar grasses and diploid ryegrasses used to • Great variety of uses, including around poly
help lower the laminitis risk tunnels, orchards, river banks and caravan parks
• High inclusion of Timothy for Haymaking • Excellent sward densisty
• Sward density from creeping red fescue, smooth • 50/50 mix of strong creeping red fescue and
stalked meadow grass and diploid ryegrasses diploid ryegrasses aid weed suppression
BOYNE MAXIMA GLENROYAL
Intermediate Perennial Creeping Red Fescue Late Perennial Ryegrass
Ryegrass
EVORA MAXIMA
TODDINGTON mooth Stalked Meadow Creeping Red Fescue
Late Perennial Ryegrass Grass
WINNETOU
Timothy
Sow from 15kg/acre 37kg/ hectare Sow from 20kg/acre 60kg/ hectare
15Downland Herbal Ley
NEW
2021
Downland Downland
Legume and Herb Mixture (GS4) herbal ley
2 to 5 year diverse mixture 3 to 4 year mix, chicory option available
• Diverse and highly productive sward for grazing • Highly palatable and nutritious, must be
livestock, rotationally or holistically rotationally grazed to get the best performance
• A tremendous organic matter builder, soil • Popular for ewes with 3 lambs, finishing and
improver and pollinator food source pedigree stock
• Compliant with CSS GS 4 legume and herb • Clovers all selected on their ability to withstand
mixture which is currently worth £309.00/hectare hard grazing. 15 to 18 day rest periods.
Perennial Ryegrass, ASPECT DOWNLAND GRAZING
Birdsfoot Trefoil,
Meadow Fescue, Tetraploid Late White Clover
Lucerne, Perennial Ryegrass
Timothy, Sheeps burnet, DOWNLAND RED
Red Fescue, TONIC CLOVER BLEND
Ribwort Plantain,
Smooth Stalked Ribwort Plantain Red Clover
Yarrow,
Meadow Grass, Sheeps parsley,
Red Clover, Wild carrot
Sainfoin, Sowing rate of 8kg/acre 20 kg/ha
16
Sowing rate of 14/15 kg/acre 35/37 kg/haDownland Overseeding Mixtures
Downland Downland
For overseeding fields that will be mainly cut For overseeding fields that will be mainly grazed
• Varieties selected for cutting yield and high
D-Values • Contains only varieties with top grazing yields
and quality
• A RED CLOVER option is available with 25%
inclusion of RED CLOVER • Will establish a highly palatable, leafy and dense
sward
• A no clover option is available • A no clover option is available
LOFA NASHOTA
Hybrid Ryegrass PlusTM Tetraploid Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass
TETRAGRAZE ASPECT
Tetraploid Hybrid Ryegrass Tetraploid Late Perennial Ryegrass
DIWAN THEGN
Tetraploid Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass Tetraploid Late Perennial Ryegrass
CUTTING GRAZING
White Clover blend White Clover blend
17 Sow from 10kg/acre 25kg/hectareDownland Downland
For overseeding fields that will be both cut and For overseeding fields that will benefit from nitrogen
grazed coated seed
• Equally good performance under different • Each seed has a nitrogen coating to boost its
grassland managements own establishment, in an existing sward
• Excellent spring growth for an early graze and • Designed for challenging situations where
1st cut yields extra help is required early in the seedlings life
• A no clover option is available • A no clover option is available
TETRAGRAZE
Intermediate Perennial
Ryegrasss NIFTY THEGN
Intermediate Perennial Tetraploid Intermediate
DIWAN Ryegrasss Perennial Ryegrass
Tetraploid Intermediate
Perennial Ryegrasss TRIWARWIC DUAL PURPOSE
Tetraploid Intermediate White Clover blend
ALFONSO Perennial Ryegrasss
Tetraploid Late
Perennial Ryegrass ALFONSO
Tetraploid Late
DUAL PURPOSE Perennial Ryegrass
White Clover blend
Sow from 10kg/acre 25kg/hectare 18Downland Root and Forage crops
Suggested Guide to
Average Sowing Rate
Average Row
Average Drill
Sowing Date
Seedbed Fertiliser
Utilisation
Pack Size
Depth cm
Width cm
kg / Hectare
Period
(kg) ha
Guide
Crop
Broadcast Direct Drill N P K
10kg & Apr-mid
Stubble Turnip 25kg
7.5 5
Sept
Jun-Jan 1-2 n/a 75 40 40
Main Crop Turnip 2kg 5 2.5 - 3.5 May-Jul Oct-Jan 1-2 n/a 40 80 100
10kg & May-end
Forage Rape 25kg
10 6
Sept
Jun-Jan 1-2 n/a 20 40 40
1ac
Precision drill
Fodder Beet 50,000 -
100,000/ha
Mar-May Oct-Mar 2.5-3 50-60 110 50 50
seeds
Precision drill 45-70
500g 370-865 kg/ graded
Swede & 1kg
2.5 - 5
ha grade H
Apr-June Aug-Mar 1-2
40
40 80 100
Direct Drill 1 natural
Kale 1kg 7.5 2.5 - 5 Apr-Jul Sept-Mar 1-2 50 100 50 120
5kg & May-
Spitfire 25kg
10 6
end Sept
Jul-Dec 1-2.5 15-20 20 40 40
Zoom 5kg 10 6 April-Sep Sept-Jan 1-2 various 110 55 55
mid
Rapid Root Mixture 5kg 8.5 6 Apr-mid Jul-Dec 1-2 n/a 60 50 50
Sept
mid
Post
Winter Graze Mixture 5kg 8.5 6 Jul-mid
Christmas
1-2 n/a 60 50 50
Sept
19
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 made available. Please contact your supplier for further guidance.Fodder Beet Swedes
Downland
Root & Fodder Crops • Grown as a main root crop
which requires similar inputs and
• An excellent high energy winter
feed
husbandry as sugar beet.
• Mainly grazed in situ but can be
In addition to grass seed mixtures for • The roots are very palatable to lifted and clamped
forage production, Downland also offers stock and contain a very high
• Can be grown in a wide range
a comprehensive range of root seed energy content.
of soil types but tend to perform
and fodder crops to meet the needs of • Can either be harvested by lifting better in areas of the country with
livestock farmers. the roots or livestock can graze in higher rainfall
situ.
If you require further information or • Swedes are sensitive to compaction
• A high yielding crop of top quality so prefer free draining soils with a
specialist help, speak to your local
fodder which can be fed as an pH of around 6.5
Downland retailer
supplement to grass silage
Pack Size - 50,000 Seeds per acre Pack Size - 1Kg (Natural), 0.5Kg (Graded)
Kale Forage Rape Stubble Turnips
• A brassica that is grown for grazing • A very fast growing brassica species • Two types of stubble turnip, a
livestock in either the autumn or bulbing type and a non bulbing
winter • Suitable for grazing by sheep or type
cattle
• Can be used to extend the grazing • Can either be sown after first
season • Excellent for boosting mid-summer cut silage for summer utilisation
forage or extending the autumn or after the cereal harvest for
• The most efficient way to utilise grazing season utilisation in the autumn
the crop is for the animals to strip
graze the crop, so that wastage is • Can be mixed with stubble • Generally produces higher fresh
minimised turnips and kale to combine the weight yields when compared to
benefits of all three forage crops forage rape
• The highest yielding leafy brassica
• Good for breaking in hill ground
Pack Size - 1Kg Pack Size - 10Kg & 20Kg Pack Size - 5Kg, 10Kg And 25Kg
20Downland Root Mixtures RAPID ROOT
(pre December use)
Downland CC The forage rape element of this mixture ensures quick
establishment and high protein yields, whilst the stubble
turnips provide energy and stockholding capacity. The
A fast growing and very productive catch crop mix
mixture is ideal for fattening stock and will provide
• Provides autumn grazing grazing from July through to December.
MERIBEL for sheep and finishing Sow mid April - mid September
Italian Ryegrass lambs as well as winter and
EMERALD early spring grazing from 60% Forage Rape Sowing Rate 6 - 8.5kg/ha
Forage Rape the Italian Ryegrass where
needed 35% Stubble Turnip Pack size 5kg
GREEN GLOBE Treatment Untreated
White Turnip • Fast growing and highly 5% Kale
productive catch crop mix
100%
Sow from 9kg/acre 22 kg/hectare
Downland CD WINTER GRAZE
(post Christmas use)
Similar to Downland CC but without the white turnips
A mixture of palatable, proven varieties ideal for
• Specifically designed to sowing after winter cereals. The mixture is suitable for
MERIBEL produce autumn grazing post Christmas grazing as it exhibits very good winter
Italian Ryegrass for sheep and fattening hardiness, which is improved by the addition of the
EMERALD lambs kale. Sow mid July - mid September
Forage Rape • Will provide both
autumn grazing from the
combination of species and 60% Stubble Turnip Sowing Rate 6 - 8.5kg/ha
winter and early spring Pack size 5kg
grazing from the Italian 35% Forage Rape
Ryegrass Treatment Untreated
5% Kale
Sow from 9kg/acre 22 kg/hectare 100%Downland Countryside
Farm diversification, environmental schemes and an
ever increasing emphasis on wildlife and conservation
has created a vast array of seed mixtures and single
crops for different uses on farm.
The 2021 Downland Countryside catalogue is available
from your local Downland retailer. It is a practical guide
to Game Cover, Environmental, Green Manure and
Forage Crop Seeds and contains detailed information
on crop choices for different uses. It also provides clear
advice on both species and mixture selection and the
appropriate husbandry to help you ensure your needs
are met.
22Your Local Downland Retailer:
Downland Marketing Limited
Telephone: 01228 564 498
Email: bestadvice@downland.co.uk
Website: www.downland.co.uk
downland.cumbria @downlandltdYou can also read
