I aim for high grass seed yield and strong protein levels.

It is mid‑August and the five silage pits behind the barns are already overflowing. A week ago, the fourth grass cut was brought in. Despite the dry summer, many tonnes of silage have once again been stored under the plastic. The Barenbrug mixtures Vital with NutriFibre technology and Mowing undeniably contribute to this. Both grass mixtures deliver a 30 percent higher yield than regular pasture mixtures, allowing the silage pits to fill up early in the season with high‑quality forage.

Crop management focused on soil quality

The high productivity of the grassland parcels is further strengthened by the crop management practiced by the entrepreneurs in Ettelgem. The grassland fields are included in a crop rotation with arable crops. Each year, roughly half of the grassland is renewed. Stephan sows the grass on the grain parcels after the grain harvest in August. Before sowing, he cultivates the soil and applies a generous amount of straw manure. Because he has followed this approach for more than twenty years, the soil’s organic matter content has increased from 1 to 3 percent. “As a result, the soil is nicely crumbly and retains moisture much better.”

Vital contributes to goat health

Stephan is impressed by the amount of mass the grass mixtures Vital and Mowing deliver with each cut. Because the ration contains a high proportion of grass — 1 kilogram of dry matter per goat per day — the feed must not ferment or digest too quickly. That is why the goat farmer from Ettelgem appreciates the Vital mixture. In addition to yield and protein, this grass mixture contributes to the fibre structure needed in the ration.

This keeps our goats healthy and ensures maximum milk production.

Even in the first cut, grass silage with NutriFibre technology reached a crude fibre content of 246.

Extra nitrogen in the soil. NutriFibre with clover

Due to strict manure regulations, the nitrogen application on grassland parcels is becoming increasingly limited. Mixing the red‑white clover blend Duet into a NutriFibre mixture offers an effective solution. The clovers in this mixture fix nitrogen from the air, allowing the grass plants to benefit and grow more vigorously. Thanks to the deep taproots of red clover, the soil structure is also improved, which strengthens the resilience of the field.

What is NutriFibre?

NutriFibre® technology is grass with a strong, extensive root system and nutritious, protein‑rich leaves. As a result, mixtures containing NutriFibre outperform regular grasses on four key points:

Mineral efficiency, because NutriFibre uses minerals very efficiently.

Healthy animals, thanks to the highly structured, fibre‑rich leaves.

Highest protein yield, as NutriFibre delivers a consistently high (protein) production.

Climate resilience, because NutriFibre withstands extreme drought as well as long wet periods exceptionally well.

Grass seed mixtures with NutriFibre provide optimal forage for the modern dairy farmer. The NutriFibre technology offers reliable solutions across a range of management conditions. Throughout Europe, a large number of dairy farmers have already chosen NutriFibre — and they feed this grass to their cows with great satisfaction.