Ryegrass

Ryegrass (Lolium)–Ryegrass grows quickly and is often used for hay. It has a good yield. Most seed mixes for farm use in temperate climates contain a high percentage of this plant. It is not very drought resistant, but grows well early in the season. You normally find it fed to cows alongside legumes, like clover as it’s rich and a certain percentage in your fields is not harmful. It is great and nutritious for standing hay as part of a mixed sward over the winter, when it loses much of its sugar and carb. Be careful of grazing new young shoots in spring and autumn. Never strip graze it as part of a starvation paddock where they are constantly eating the new shoots as you’ll be on a direct route to lami and ems, if your horses are already prone to these then it really isn’t your friend. Only graze it when it’s long. Never use it as a single sward. Watch out for fungal attack.