It takes about 11 months for a new sward to establish; therefore the management of the reseed in this period is important.

Teagasc staff in the Grassland Department, Dairy and Beef Specialist teams in Moorepark have done extensive research on reseeding. It notes reseeding levels in Ireland are low. Less than 2 per cent of our annual grassland area is reseeded annually. As grass is our main feed during the main grazing season, and the primary source of winter forage in the form of grass silage, the low level of reseeding must be addressed.

Management of New Reseeds

Dos

First eight weeks

Spray weeds before grazing
Graze when grass is at 2 leaf stage Nitrogen and               P&K
Slug pellets (if required)

Second grazing onwards

Graze at 1,000 – 1,400 kg DM/ha  (6-7 cm)
Re-spray weeds               if necessary

Autumn

Keep grazing at  1,200 –  1,400 kg DM/ha
Graze off well before first winter (<4 cm)
Light slurry application

Second year

Ensure the new                sward receives adequate nitrogen
Monitor soil P and K status

Do nots

First eight weeks

Graze at high cover (>1200 kg DM/ha)
Do not harvest for silage

Second grazing onwards

Allow high covers to develop
Graze in really dry or wet conditions

Autumn

Overgraze or poach
Apply excessive  slurry

Second year

Overgraze or poach

Graze the new reseed as soon as the plants do not pull out of the ground, approximately 700 – 1000 kg DM/ha. It is especially important that autumn reseeds are grazed before the first winter.

The first grazing does not have to be completed by the main grazing herd, calves or young stock may be a better option, particularly during poor grazing conditions.