Puna II Perennial Chicory - British Seed Houses

Puna II Perennial ChicoryIncreased grazing potential for cattle and sheep

Puna II in PracticePerennial chicory boostspasture productivityIncluding perennial chicory in grazing leyshas given Yorkshire Dales beef and sheepfarmer David Findlay substantial benefits inanimal health and performance, resulting inincreased profitability on the farm.Farming some 285 acres at Birdridding Farmin Coverham, in partnership with his wifeDiane, David first introduced perennialchicory in July 2008, and has been surprisedby the impact on animal and economicperformance.“The crop has basically allowed us todevelop a far lower-cost system for rearingbeef and sheep,” explains David, who hassignificantly cut input cost in many areas –including seed, feed, fertiliser and animalhealth products – and also believes animalshave thrived and performed far better onthe crop and attracted higher prices at market.“Right from the start it has given us savings.”David initially drilled 25 acres with two separate mixtures containing the perennial chicoryvariety Puna II. Ten acres were sown with British Seed Houses’ perennial chicory and red clovermixture that is ideal for fattening lambs. The remaining 15 acres was sown with a premiumgrazing mixture comprising Aber high sugar perennial ryegrasses, white clover and perennialchicory.“The leys established well despite quite wet conditions and had a phenomenal growth-rate,and by mid-September – just eight weeks after drilling – we’d put the sheep on to graze,which you wouldn’t be able to do so soon with, say, a ryegrass-only mix.”Broken mouth ewes, bought in for tupping and a single lambing, were the first to benefit,doing substantially better than anticipated, and lambs have fattened well and made goodprices. Low faecal egg counts in lambs have led to reduced use of wormers, suggesting someanthelmintic value is being gained from the perennial chicory.PUNA II PERENNIAL CHICORY • 5

Puna II in PracticeProductive grazing boosts Exmoor beefExmoor beef producer Rupert Dod of Higher Ford Farm,Withel Florey, began including Puna II perennial chicory in hisleys alongside Aber High Sugar Grasses and white clover in2009. It was a strategy designed to improve feeding efficiencyin quality cattle reared for the emerging ‘Exmoor Beef’ brand.So well did the crop establish on land ‘just below the moorline’ at around 1,000ft that lambs were brought in for grazingjust four weeks after drilling. Spring 2010 saw the ley growaway early, providing grazing in February and March whenother fields remained less productive. As the year progressed,Rupert reported ‘unprecedented growth rates’ includingexceptional regrowths after some of the reseeded area wascut for big bale silage.Some 270 spring calving Aberdeen Angus suckler cows form the mainstay of the enterprise. Inthe past they were offered a cereal-based creep feed from July and finished indoors fromOctober, but with the additional forage production there is now the opportunity to reduce theconcentrates fed at grazing.Puna II has role in sustainable dairy farmingWith over 70% of milk coming from forage and hiscosts of production at around 75% of the nationalaverage, Paul Redmore believes the 200 crossbredcows that he manages for Bicton College in Devonis a sustainable dairy unit in a future with volatilemilk prices and rising input costs.Almost year-round grass growth and extendedgrazing underpin the system, which works due tothe right management, cows and choices of forage.In the quest for the best quality grazing, Paul hasrecently introduced Puna II perennial chicory alongside Aber High Sugar Grasses and whiteclover. Perennial chicory brings more variety in the pasture and an added level of droughtsecurity. In Paul’s experience the cows milk well on the Puna II perennial chicory and find itvery palatable.6 • PUNA II PERENNIAL CHICORY

Puna II MixturesLamb Finisher2.00 Puna II Perennial Chicory2.00 Merviot Red Clover1.25 AberRuby Red Clover5.25 kg/acreOrganic option availableKey Strengths• 2-3 years, intensive finishing mixture• Full production from May to September• Red clover can contribute up to 150kgN/ha• High protein forage suitable for finishing early lambsLamb Finisher with White Clover2.00 Puna II Perennial Chicory1.50 Merviot Red Clover1.00 AberRuby Red Clover1.00 AberConcord/AberDai White Clover5.50 kg/acreKey Strengths• As Lamb Finisher, but with the benefit of white clover to improve ground cover during late season• 2-3 years durationLivestock Grazer/Beef Finisher/Puna II HSG Medium Term Ley1.75 Puna II Perennial Chicory1.50 AberConcord/AberDai White Clover2.00 AberEcho HSG® Hybrid Ryegrass2.00 AberEve HSG® Hybrid Ryegrass4.00 AberMagic HSG® Perennial Ryegrass11.25 kg/acreKey Strengths• 3-4 year medium term ley• Ideal for lambs, beef youngstock - finishing (or calves) or flushing ewes• The grasses in this mixture offer improved grazing and ground cover in autumnPlusPuna II perennial chicory is also available as an integral part of mixtures throughout theBritish Seed Houses Aber Premium Mixtures range.PUNA II PERENNIAL CHICORY • 7

Find out moreA selection of technical guides and Farm Bulletins is available free on requestfrom British Seed Houses.Out-wintering inpractice:A guide to successfulout-wintering with asummary of farmerexperiences.Forage Brassicas:Planning, growing andutilising forage brassicasfor year-round costssavings and feedingsolutions.Aber PremiumMixtures:Aber High Sugar Grassmixtures with AberClovers and Puna IIPerennial Chicory.Reseeding GrasslandFarm Bulletin:Using unique hybridbrassicas as a beneficialbreak.All of the above can be viewed or downloaded from www.bshagriculture.comor can be obtained free of charge by contacting British Seed Houses at eitherBristol or Lincoln using the contact details below.British Seed HousesPortview RoadAvonmouthBristol BS11 9JHBritish Seed HousesCamp RoadWitham St HughsLincoln LN6 9QJTel: 0117 982 3691 Tel: 01522 868714seeds@bshavon.co.ukseeds@bshlincoln.co.ukwww.britishseedhouses.com