Hybrid Ryegrass (Lolium x hybridum hausskn) — High-Yielding Silage Grass with Lasting Persistence
Hybrid Ryegrass is a cross between Italian and perennial ryegrass, sharing characteristics of both parents. The dominant parent determines how a variety performs in the field — most hybrid varieties carry dominant Italian genes, delivering the same high yields as Italian ryegrass while also inheriting some of the persistence of the perennial parent. The result is a longer-lasting, high-yielding silage grass that also produces more tillers and leaf from the base of the plant, giving better ground cover and improved aftermath grazing compared to Italian ryegrass alone.
What It’s Used For
Silage, haylage, hay, and good aftermath grazing. One of the best all-round grasses available to the intensive farmer.
How Long Will It Last?
Up to 4 years, though yields can drop away sharply after this point.
Key Strengths
- High silage yields comparable to Italian ryegrass, with greater persistence
- More tillers and leaf from the base than Italian ryegrass — better, less gappy grazing sward
- Good frost tolerance
- High sugar content — responds well to nitrogen fertiliser
- Modern varieties carry good disease resistance scores (see UK Recommended List)
Yield
14 t dry matter per hectare.
Frost Tolerance
Good. Graze in mid to late autumn to prevent the crop going into winter in an upright leafy state, where it is more vulnerable to hard frosts. Grazing also cleans out the base of the sward and encourages fresh growth the following spring.
Sowing Rate
- 14 kg/acre (35 kg/ha)
When to Sow
Sow in the autumn for a full crop the following spring.
Management
Cutting timing for silage depends on the heading date of the variety — hybrid ryegrass generally heads around the third week of May. As the plant matures and develops a seed head, forage quality (D-value) declines. A D-value of 67–70 represents good quality forage, equating to approximately 25–50% ear emergence.
When to cut will depend on the stock being fed: dry cows can utilise a lower quality, stemmier silage, while growing young stock require higher quality forage. On good ground, hybrid ryegrass typically provides 2 full cuts per season.
Hybrid ryegrass is susceptible to the usual ryegrass pests and diseases including mildew and ryegrass mosaic virus. Modern varieties have good disease resistance scores available on the Recommended List.
Identifying the Crop
Seed: Narrowly oblong in shape. Beige in colour with a smooth, papery texture. Approximately 5 mm in length. Around 400,000 seeds per kg.
Mature plant: Glossy dark green leaves, smooth and shiny on the underside, slightly rougher on the upper surface. Leaf width up to 10 mm. Ligules 1–2 mm. The distinctive ryegrass inflorescence has spikelets arranged opposite each other along the axis — due to hybridisation, spikelets may be awned or awnless. Plant height 30–90 cm. Flowers May–September.
Works Well With
The 4-year persistence of hybrid ryegrass combines well with certain varieties of red clover to produce a productive 3–4 year red clover and ryegrass ley, boosting crude protein levels in the silage.
Find Hybrid Ryegrass in Our Mixtures
Germinal:
- Bio Cutting Organic Grass Seed Mixture →
- Bio Red 5 Organic Grass Seed Mixture →
- Germinal Livestock Grazer – High Sugar Grass & Herb Mix →
Climate Smart Clean:
- CS Clean 3-4 Year Silage with Red Clover →
- CS Clean 3-4 Year Silage with no Red Clover →
- CS Clean Short Term Overseeding with No Clover →
Climate Smart Thrive:
Climate Smart Adapt: