Overseeding One Year Leys Sainfoin Lucerne Red Clover Leys White Clover Leys Long Term Leys Herbal Leys Root Crops Green Manures OELS Game Cover Parkland Horse & Pony Conventional: Wild Flowers Lawn Order Online
or Call 0800 252211 |
|
|
Organic Long Term LeysTraditional quality leys for the stockman |
Sensible Approach There are many grasses and legumes which can be found throughout the UK but there are only a handful of species which are commonly used for forage. The reason for this is simple. A suitable forage plant must produce a reasonable yield and be nutritious to livestock. The list of suitable plants is short. Ryegrasses, cocksfoot, timothy, meadow fescue along with red and white clover are the most notable. These species can be reliably sown together and are quite easy to manage as a temporary ley. These leys are intended for profitable stock production with emphasis placed on seasonal production, live weight gain, breeding and fattening. Beef and sheep farmers are turning to clover as a protein source to increase production, reduce inputs and maintain profit margins. 
Cover Crop Long term leys can benefit from the addition of a fast growing cover or nurse crop. Westerwolds, a one year ryegrass, can provide cover during establishment and increase yields in the first year of production. Add westerwolds ryegrass at 3 kg per acre (65% Organic). Cost £11.58 per acre - please phone us on 0800 252211 for this addition. Vitamins and Minerals Simple mixtures containing only ryegrass can lack some essential vitamins and minerals which are essential for the health and growth of ruminant animals. The use of clovers and herbs in mixtures will increase the availability of essential vitamins and minerals. It is remarkable how stock relish mixed swards, particularly those old pastures which contain herbs. Herb seed can be included in these mixtures. These should be sown in the spring or summer and are very successful on light land. At Cotswold Seeds we can add to your mixture, sheeps burnet, ribgrass, yarrow and sheeps parsley at 0.5 kg per acre costs £5.85 - please phone us on 0800 252211 for this addition. 
‘LAMINS’ Drought Resistant
Four Year Grazing Ley Ref. MIXCGO4ORG 65% Organic This is a traditional humus building and drought resistant ley which is ideal for continuous grazing. This Clifton Park type mixture will provide good quality forage which is high in protein. It starts early in the spring and will grow well through the summer and into the autumn. All the species are drought tolerant. It is important to shallow sow into a fine, firm seedbed. Ideally, sow between March and the end of August. Late autumn sowing should be avoided.
5.00 kg certified NIVA ORGANIC cocksfoot
3.20 kg certified LAURA ORGANIC meadow fescue 1.30 kg certified PROMESSE timothy 1.00 kg certified MILVUS red clover 0.40 kg certified ABERCONCORD white clover 0.40 kg certified ABERHERALD white clover 0.20 kg certified S184 OR ABERACE wild white clover 0.50 kg certified PUNA chicory 0.25 kg BURNET 0.10 kg RIBGRASS 0.05 kg YARROW 0.10 kg SHEEPS PARSLEY 12.50 kg per acre(31.25 kg/ha)
HEAVY LAND LEYS
A Brief History Before the intensification of agriculture, grass leys contained species other than ryegrass. In upland areas mixtures of meadow fescue, timothy and clover were frequently sown. These seed mixtures were chosen because they grew well on cold, wet soils. and do not demand artificial nitrogen fertiliser and are therefore well suited to organic systems. However, ryegrass has been frequently sown on this type of ground in recent times but often it can be observed that the sown species reduce rapidly after only a few years. We are therefore introducing this grass seed mixture again as an alternative, especially for farmers in the cooler, wetter districts or those looking for a long duration ley. Forage Quality and Bulk Timothy and meadow fescue are considered to be the most palatable of the permanent grasses. One of our customers commented recently that his stock much preferred grazing these leys over ryegrasses. Although they may lack some of the digestibility associated with ryegrass they are consumed readily by the grazing animal. In addition, when grown with red and white clovers the forage produced will be higher in protein and will be more digestible. The legumes also provide the grasses with nitrogen. Given that this mixture has not been the subject of scientific evaluation in recent times it should be assumed that yields obtainable are likely to be lower than a ryegrass based sward on good loam, but this ley will out yield ryegrass on the heavier clays and stiffer soils. Sowing Time As with most non ryegrass mixtures it is essential to sow when growing conditions are good. Cotswold Seeds advise the ideal way to establish this mixture is to sow in the spring either direct with a cover of westerwolds ryegrass or vetches which provide additional bulk in the year of sowing, or undersown to a spring cereal. Autumn sowings can be contemplated provided the seed is in by mid August. A cover of Italian or westerwolds ryegrass can be sown with it, but be warned, westerwolds grows away quickly in the spring and may not be appropriate on heavy ground. Please seek advice at the time of ordering. |
Permanent Grass
Ref. MIX6ORG 65% Organic This versatile seed mixture contains persistent varieties ensuring good yields for cutting and grazing over many years. Promesse timothy is extremely resistant to cold temperatures and provides good medium to late season growth. The thick bottom sward structure is obtained by using mainly late perennial ryegrasses and is complemented by highly nutritious white clover. Being very hardy this mixture can be grown equally well in upland or lowland areas.
2.85 kg certified RASTRO ORGANIC perennial ryegrass
2.50 kg certified TORNADO ORGANIC per. ryegrass 2.50 kg certified PASTOUR ORGANIC per. ryegrass 2.50 kg certified IDEAL tetraploid perennial ryegrass 2.00 kg certified PROMESSE timothy 0.40 kg certified ABERDAI white clover 0.40 kg certified ABERHERALD white clover 0.20 kg certified S184 wild white clover 13.00 kg per acre (32.5 kg/ha)
‘CHOLDERTON’ Mix Four Year Plus
All Round Grazing/Cutting Ley Ref. MIXCM 65% Organic A ley which provides good growth for early grazing or cutting. It regrows powerfully through the spring and into the summer giving an outstanding second cut yield. The ley tolerates dry conditions due to the deep roots of cocksfoot and red clover. The mixture will last for between three and five years. If left in the ground for longer the cocksfoot will become dominant.
2.00 kg certified BOXER ORGANIC tet. hybrid ryegrass
2.00 kg certified CALIBRA ORGANIC tet. per. ryegrass 4.45 kg certified RASTRO ORGANIC tet. per. ryegrass 1.50 kg certified PROMESSE timothy 1.75 kg certified PRAIRIAL cocksfoot 0.50 kg certified MILVUS red clover 0.40 kg certified ABERHERALD white clover 0.30 kg certified ABERCONCORD white clover 0.10 kg certified S184 OR ABERACE wild white clover 13.00 kg per acre (32.5 kg/ha)
The Importance of Deep Roots Many of you will recollect the Clifton Park grass seed mixture which was sown extensively on lighter soils in former times. R H Elliot and W Lamin were pioneers and advocates of light land seed mixtures which consisted of deep rooting species. Elliot s original mixture was complex with the mainstay being cocksfoot. Then, as now, some farmers were reluctant to use too much cocksfoot, as it was inclined to grow coarse and in clumps. However, this was only a problem when grass seed was sown too thinly allowing the cocksfoot too much freedom. Elliot observed that his deep rooting four year long term ley mixture was considerably better in dry districts than ryegrass leys. Ryegrass was good for the wet parts of England and Wales but not very good for dry districts, where it soon burnt up in the summer. Of ryegrass, Lamin said 'If there came a dry spell the roots were curling about on top of the ground and they didn t go down into the soil to make the humus nor did they get moisture to keep the grass going'. Lamin farmed sandy land in Nottinghamshire and joked that his grass roots would be tickling the miners ears below ground! He used mixtures based on Elliot s original ideas for over thirty years. Over time he simplified the grass seeds mixture and left out the finer grasses which he felt made little or no contribution. The seed mixture detailed is based on Lamins recipe. Yield It is well documented that ryegrass only leys respond well to nitrogen fertiliser provided there is a sufficient supply of soil moisture. The likelihood is that ryegrass and bagged nitrogen leys will yield more than the Clifton Park mixtures in an ideal ryegrass growing season. However, the important thing to recognise is that on drought prone soil the opposite will happen. The yields will be higher and more predictable when deep rooting species are used. Structure & Fertility Light land soils can be substantially improved by introducing humus building leys into the rotation. Long term deep rooting plants have the ability to build humus, improving the soils structure and fertility. It is the grasses which improve the humus and structure and the legumes which create the fertility by fixing nitrogen. Subsequent crops will benefit from the improved soil.
Meadow Fescue/Timothy Ley
Dual Purpose Mixture Ref. MIXCGO5ORG 65% Organic This non ryegrass ley should not be over grazed allowing an interval for recovery between grazings. The grass it produces is highly acceptable to grazing stock providing it is kept leafy. It can also be cut for silage or hay and the best quality forage will come from swards which are cut before heading.
8.20 kg certified LAURA ORGANIC meadow fescue
2.30 kg certified PROMESSE timothy 1.00 kg certified ALTASWEDE late red clover 0.40 kg certified ABERHERALD white clover 0.40 kg certified ABERCONCORD white clover 0.20 kg certified S184 OR ABERACE wild white clover 12.50 kg per acre (31 kg/ha)
|
| Need advice? Please call 0800 252211 |