Aber High Sugar Grasses - What are the Benefits?

Farmers using Aber High Sugar Grasses (HSG) can benefit from increased production while simultaneously helping the environment. These award-winning perennial ryegrass varieties are bred to contain higher water-soluble carbohydrates than standard grasses. This enhances protein use efficiency in livestock, ensuring less is wasted as harmful ammonia and nitrous oxide emissions.

What are the benefits?

Dairy

• Up to 6% average higher milk yield per cow (Miller et al, 2001):
• 2.7kg per day increase in milk yield in late lactation cows (Miller et al, 2001).
• Dry matter intake increase: 2kg per head per day (Miller et al, 2001).
• Diet digestibility: 3% improvement with Aber HSG vs standard grasses (Miller et al, 2001).

Beef

• Up to 25% dry matter intake increase (IBERS).
• Up to 20% higher daily liveweight gain (IBERS).

Sheep

• Up to 20% higher daily liveweight gain (IBERS).
• Up to 20% higher sward carrying capacity (IBERS).

Increase in liveweight gain (LWG) in lambs grazing Aber HSG

Source: Lee et al, 2001

Environmental

• 24% reduction in urinary N excretion (IBERS).
• 4-6% reduction in nitrate leaching (Soteriades et al, 2018).
• 7-11% decrease in ammonia losses to the atmosphere (Soteriades et al, 2018).
• 40% lower carbon footprint per litre of milk when combined with improved manure management (Soteriades et al, 2018).

Reduced emissions from dairy cows grazing Aber HSG