Multi species mixtures: grasses determine success

Grass choice has a major impact on performance

The grasses used in a herb mixture have a significant influence on its overall performance. Yet in many mixtures, grass quality receives too little attention. We believe that introducing herbs should not come at the expense of forage yield, nor should it reduce the feeding value of your forage. That is why it is important to choose your herb mixture carefully. The key is to pay close attention to the grass species included in the blend.

NutriHerb Balance: herbs combined with top-performing grasses

NutriHerb Balance is a grass and herb mixture. The herbs have been extensively researched and tested for use in dairy forage production. This means you benefit not only from the added advantages of forage herbs, but also from excellent feed value and forage yields. So what should you look for when selecting a herb mixture? One important consideration is the choice of grass species. Mixtures containing species such as cocksfoot, smooth meadow grass or meadow fescue generally perform less favourably in terms of feed value and yield. In addition, qualified varieties provide greater confidence in maintaining a stable botanical composition over several years.

Combination with the best grasses

NutriHerb Balance owes its high yields and excellent feed value to the combination of forage herbs with carefully selected grass species. Within NutriHerb Balance, the herbs and clovers are combined with: perennial ryegrass, soft-leaf tall fescue and timothy grass. This combination creates a versatile sward suitable for both grazing and silage production.

Up to 0.5 kg more milk per cow per day

NutriHerb Balance can also have a positive effect on milk production. A cow consuming an average of 10 kg of NutriHerb Balance dry matter can produce up to 0.5 kg more milk per day, assuming the same total feed intake. The diversity of plants provides cows with a naturally varied and highly palatable diet.

NutriHerb Balance helps meet its own nitrogen requirements

The synergy between the herbs and grasses in NutriHerb Balance is exceptional. The species complement one another and work together effectively. For example, some herbs, such as birdsfoot trefoil, both root deeply and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Their deep root systems make efficient use of soil moisture and minerals. In addition to birdsfoot trefoil, NutriHerb Balance contains three other legume species, enabling the sward to meet a significant proportion of its own nitrogen requirements. This can help reduce fertiliser costs while contributing to a more sustainable forage production system.

Well equipped for dry summers

Another important advantage is the mixture's resilience during dry summers. In recent years, NutriHerb Balance has demonstrated that it can continue to perform under drought conditions and may even outyield swards consisting solely of perennial ryegrass. Herbs such as plantain, chicory and clover also offer an exceptionally high feed value, reaching around 1,200 VEM during their leafy growth stage. As a result, silage made from NutriHerb Balance is highly competitive when compared with traditional all-grass leys. Furthermore, NutriHerb Balance provides both energy and protein, helping to ensure that cows receive a well-balanced supply of nutrients throughout the grazing season.

Choose the NutriHerb mixture that suits your farm

Because every farm has different requirements, two options are available:

• NutriHerb Balance: a complete, ready-to-sow grass and herb mixture.
• NutriHerb Essence: a forage herb mixture that can be combined with the grass-clover mixture of your choice.

This flexibility allows you to choose the solution that best matches your farming system and objectives.