Farming Monthly National March 2018 | Page 15

| Arable Limagrain extends Monarch grass seed mixtures with enhanced feed value range The latest range of Monarch grass seed mixtures, launched in February, includes four new options. These four newcomers are included for their ability to offer outstanding agronomic and yield qualities alongside high feed values, which have been proven to increase milk and meat production. he new mixtures are identified with the LGAN (LG Animal Nutrition) accreditation. Included are two mainly cutting mixtures: LGAN Quality Silage and LGAN Protein Silage; and the dual-purpose LGAN Silage and Grazing and grazing mixture LGAN Intensive Grazing. “LGAN accreditation is awarded to mixtures that deliver superior nutritional value, while maintaining excellent agronomic qualities and yield,” says Limagrain’s seed specialist John Spence. “We support each LGAN mixture with independent trial data that demonstrates the added feed value.” Based on data from trials carried out at the Schothorst Research Institute, based in the Netherlands, cows fed on a diet including the LGAN grass mixture produced 1.4 litres per day more milk than the group of cows fed a dual-purpose mixture. Based on 300 days in milk and a milk price of 28ppl, the LGAN mixture added £118 per cow to milk value. The LGAN Intensive Grazing mixture also out-performed a T www.farmingmonthly.co.uk control mixture of recommended varieties in Dartington forage quality trials. Taking multiple test points throughout the season, the LGAN mixture showed an improvement in dry matter yield of 1.78t/ha and energy of 25,694MJ/ha compared to the control. “This increase in energy is equivalent to 4,848 litres of milk,” adds Mr Spence. “Based on a price of 28ppl, this is worth an extra £1,357 per hectare.” Highly popular and trusted Monarch mixtures, such as the medium- and long-term cutting mixtur