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Major leap in feed value with modern grass varieties
The feed value of grass plays an increasingly important role in the profitability of dairy farms. However, the Recommended Variety List lacks any information regarding VEM or VEM/kg dry matter, whereas this is available for maize at the variety level. Research results from Schothorst Feed Research (SFR) are now changing this. The newest grass varieties, Astrian and Melsago, account for a milk gain of no less than 1 liter per cow per day.
The difficulty with grass is that each variety has its own heading date, which has a major influence on the feed value. Grass changes in terms of nutritional value as it ages. The ratio of energy, sugar, protein, and fiber shifts rapidly, especially around mowing. Even a difference of a few days in harvest can have a significant effect.
Over 30 VEM more
Researchers at De Schothorst in Lelystad have closely measured the VEM values of various grass cuts in two test plots. In doing so, the very latest tetraploid grass genetics (Astrian and Melsago) were compared with a BG3 reference pasture consisting of 100% diploid perennial ryegrass. Upon ensiling, it was found that the modern varieties contained over 30 VEM per kilogram of dry matter more. In a subsequent feeding trial in the spring of 2025, the effect of this on feed intake and milk yield was investigated.
Higher feed intake, more milk
After three weeks on the same ration, the six-week test phase began. Fourteen comparable groups of cows – carefully matched on age and production – each received a different type of grass silage: one BG3, the other the LG mixture with Astrian and Melsago.
Feed trial results*
Researcher Ivonne Kok: "The cows preferred eating the new tetraploid grass. It contains more sugar, fewer cell walls, and is therefore tastier and more digestible. This is reflected in the higher dry matter intake of an average of 1,1 kilograms per day over the entire trial period. And that, in turn, has an impact on milk production, which was on average 1 kilogram of milk per cow per day higher. Other interesting findings were the higher fat and protein gram production and the lower urea content in the milk of cows that had been fed the LG ration."
Why tetraploid grass performs better
Modern tetraploid perennial ryegrass varieties such as Astrian and Melsago have:
- Fewer cell walls → chew faster, digest easier
- More sugar → higher palatability
- Higher digestibility → more efficient protein utilization
- Better preservation → more lactic acid and acetic acid, less spontaneous combustion
According to Theo Courtz, product manager at Limagrain, this is exactly what dairy farmers need: "Grass must be highly digestible, with a balanced ratio of protein to fiber. With strong genetics, you can therefore really make big strides in grassland renewal."
With Astrian and Melsago, two varieties are making their debut that excel not only in yield – both achieve well over 10 tonnes of dry matter per hectare – but also in feed value quality. "That is precisely the reason why, starting this spring, they have been included as standard in the compositions of our high-yielding grassland mixtures. Havera 1 en Havera 4."
Theo Courtz
