The Complete Guide to Choosing the Right Grass Seed for Irish Farms

Updated 09 Dec 2025

With summer well underway, now is the perfect time to focus on selecting and planting the right grass seed variety to ensure optimal grazing before the end of the year. Delaying this process can lead to missed opportunities for high-quality forage production. Here’s an in-depth guide to help you choose the best grass seed variety and ensure successful establishment and grazing.

Why Choosing the Right Grass Seed Matters

High-performing grassland delivers:

 

• Improved dry matter yields
• Better utilisation during the grazing season
• Stronger root systems and more resilient swards
• Higher-quality forage for dairy, beef and youngstock
• Reduced reliance on bought-in feed

The genetics inside modern grass varieties have advanced significantly. Selecting the right seed mixture now has a direct impact on milk yield, liveweight gain, nitrogen efficiency and overall farm profitability.

Selecting the Right Grass Seed Variety

Choosing the right grass seed variety is essential for maximising yield, quality, and persistence. Here are key factors to consider:

Yield and Quality

Select varieties that produce high yields of quality forage. Look for grasses that have been tested and proven to deliver consistent results.

Grazing Utilisation

Choose varieties with high grazing utilisation rates. These varieties are more palatable to livestock, ensuring that more of the grown grass is consumed. For example, Xenon and Aspect are among the top varieties for grazing utilisation.

Persistence

Opt for grass varieties known for their persistence. This ensures that the sward remains productive over several years, providing a good return on investment.

Seasonal Performance

Consider the seasonal growth patterns of different varieties to ensure a consistent supply of forage throughout the grazing season.

Recommended Grass Seed Varieties for Ireland

Below are some of the top-performing grass seed varieties in Ireland:

• Xenon: Known for its excellent grazing utilisation and persistence. It has a high PPI score and is favoured for its ability to support high animal performance.
• Aspect: Highly palatable and performs well in grazing trials. It ranks high in the PPI for grazing utilisation and digestibility.
• Nashota: A NxGen tetraploid variety with high-quality and good grazing utilisation. It combines the benefits of traditional tetraploids with a denser growth habit.
• Bowie: An ultra-late heading variety with excellent quality. It provides good ground cover and is ideal for extending the grazing season.

These varieties, especially when used in a mixture, provide a balance of yield, quality, and persistence, ensuring a productive and resilient pasture.

How to Choose the Best Seed Mixture for Your System

The right grass seed mixture depends on three primary factors:

1. Your Production System

• Dairy grazing farms benefit from late-heading PRG varieties with good spring and autumn growth.
• Beef and drystock farms often require robust swards with strong ground cover and persistency.
• Silage-focused farms perform best with hybrids, Italians and red clover for protein-rich, high-DM cuts.

2. Soil Type and Drainage

Heavier soils need varieties with deep roots and strong persistency. Lighter soils suit fast-growing mixtures that respond well to management.

3. Fertility and Nutrient Management

Clover-based mixes thrive under moderate nitrogen use, while high-output dairy systems may require higher-yielding PRG mixtures supported with targeted nutrients.

The Role of Soil Health in Grass Seed Performance

Even the best seed mixture will underperform if soil health is poor. Before reseeding or overseeding, farmers should assess:

• Soil pH
• Phosphorus and potassium levels
• Drainage issues
• Compaction
• Organic matter

Correcting soil fertility is essential for maximising establishment, persistency and long-term sward productivity.

Why Reseeding Now is Crucial for Your Pasture?

Reseeding your pasture by the end of August is crucial for several compelling reasons. First and foremost, timely reseeding allows for optimal establishment before the onset of winter, ensuring robust growth and resilience throughout the grazing season. It sets the stage for enhanced grass quality, which directly translates to improved livestock performance and productivity. Moreover, early reseeding maximises the utilisation of available growing conditions, leveraging favourable soil temperatures and moisture levels to promote strong root development and rapid seedling establishment. By acting now, you’re investing in the future health and productivity of your pasture, paving the way for increased forage yields and cost-effective feed production. Here is a breakdown of the most important benefits of reseeding now:

Optimal Growing Conditions

Soil temperatures are warm, and moisture levels are generally favourable in late summer, creating ideal conditions for seed germination and growth.

Establishment Time

Planting in August allows the grass to establish a strong root system before winter, ensuring it’s ready for grazing in the following months.

High-Quality Forage

Early reseeding results in higher quality and quantity of forage, which can be grazed before the end of the year.

Resilience

A well-established pasture is more resilient to weather extremes and can maintain productivity during dry spells or colder weather.

Preparing for Reseeding

Preparing for reseeding involves several critical steps to ensure successful establishment and long-term productivity of your pasture. From soil preparation to seed selection and timing, each aspect plays a crucial role in maximising the benefits of reseeding for your farm.

Soil Testing

Conduct a soil test to check for pH levels and nutrient availability. This will help you apply the necessary fertilisers to create optimal conditions for seed growth. Aim to correct any pH imbalances by applying lime if needed.

Seedbed Preparation

Prepare a fine, firm seedbed to ensure good seed-to-soil contact. This promotes uniform germination and strong root development. Consider methods such as disc harrowing and power harrowing to achieve this.

Sowing

Sow the grass seed at the recommended rate. This varies by variety, so follow the guidelines provided by your seed supplier. Typically, seeding rates are around 14 kgs per acre.

Post-Sowing Care

After sowing, it is crucial to manage weeds by applying post-emergence herbicides when weeds are at the seedling stage – it’s particularly important to target docks at this early stage. Carefully manage grazing on newly reseeded areas to promote tillering and the establishment of clover if it is included in the mix. Grazing should be light initially and gradually increase as the sward becomes more established.

Maximising Grass Utilisation

To make the most of your reseeded pasture, follow these key practices:

Grazing Management

Try to graze at least once before the end of the year, ensuring conditions are not either extremely wet or extremely dry to avoid damage. Graze down to lower residuals in early spring to promote three-leaf growth and higher quality forage. This encourages the sward to grow densely and increases the amount of palatable forage available.

Measure Residuals

Focus on measuring residuals rather than yield to manage the sward effectively. This helps in maintaining the desired sward height and promotes better regrowth.

Reseeding Plan

Aim to reseed 25-30% of your grazing platform each year to maintain high productivity and forage quality. This rotational approach ensures that you always have a portion of your pasture in peak condition.

Incorporating Multi-Species Swards

Consider incorporating multi-species swards into your grazing platform. Multi-species swards are a sustainable source of high-quality forage that offer several benefits:

Nutrient Efficiency

Multi-species swards can significantly reduce the nitrogen fertiliser requirement, as legumes within the mix fix atmospheric nitrogen. This leads to cost savings and environmental benefits.

Animal Performance

These swards produce highly digestible forage rich in minerals and high in protein, which can enhance animal health and performance.

Resilience

Multi-species swards are more resilient to drought and other adverse conditions, ensuring a steady supply of high-quality forage throughout the grazing season.

Managing Clover in the Sward

The incorporation of white clover into grass swards can significantly reduce reliance on inorganic nitrogen fertiliser and increase the financial and environmental sustainability of Irish farms. White clover is highly digestible, with crude protein content averaging over 20%.

Benefits of white clover include:

• Offsetting up to 150 kg N/ha per year in inorganic nitrogen fertiliser
• Increasing dry matter intake by 1.5 kg per cow per day
• Enhancing milk solids by 30 kg MS/cow per year

For maximum benefit, manage the sward to maintain a 20-30% white clover content. White clover is included in all Specialist Nutrition grass mixtures, and a high-yielding White Clover Blend Oversow is also available.

When to Reseed vs Overseed

Reseeding delivers the highest long-term return when swards are old, stemmy or heavily infested with weeds. Overseeding, on the other hand, is ideal for maintaining good swards and enhancing performance without a full renovation.

Farmers can find more detailed technical guidance in our spoke articles:

• Tips For Successful Grassland Reseeding this Spring
• How to Select the Right Grass Seed This April
• How to Maintain Grass Quality and Herd Performance During the Mid-Season
• Red Clover and Multi-Species Swards – A Smart Investment for 2025?
• Reseeding the grazing platform – what are the benefits for your farm?

These in-depth resources support farmers at each stage of the decision-making process.

Improving Grazing Efficiency Through the Right Grass Seed Choice

Modern grass varieties extend the grazing season, increase utilisation and improve the quality of grass available during shoulders of the year. This supports:

• Better milk solids from grazed grass
• Higher daily liveweight gains in beef cattle
• Reduced dependence on concentrates
• More efficient nitrogen use on farm

Choosing varieties with strong early spring and late autumn growth can add several days to the grazing season — delivering significant savings.

Specialist Nutrition: Expert Advice for Irish Grassland Farmers

Our grass advisor team helps farmers select the most suitable grass seed mixtures for dairy and beef systems, supported by soil analysis, field assessments and nutrition planning. Whether you’re reseeding a high-output grazing block or improving silage ground, we can recommend tailored seed solutions designed for Irish growing conditions.

Get Personalised Grass Seed Guidance for Your Farm

If you want help choosing the ideal grass seed mixture, improving soil fertility or planning a reseeding strategy, our grassland experts are here to support you. Contact Specialist Nutrition for tailored advice and a custom seed recommendation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Grass Seeds, Grass Seed Mixtures & Reseeding

1. What grass seed is best for Irish grazing systems?

The best grass seed for Irish grazing generally includes perennial ryegrass varieties with strong PPI scores. Mixing diploids, tetraploids and clover can maximise yield, quality and sward persistence.

2. What are the benefits of using a grass seed mixture instead of a single variety?

Grass seed mixtures deliver better balance in yield, quality, disease resistance and resilience. A blend also supports consistent grazing utilisation across changing weather conditions.

3. How do I choose the right grass seed for my farm?

To choose the right grass seed, consider your soil type, stocking rate, grazing strategy and whether the field is for silage, grazing or both. A grass seed advisor can match mixtures to your farm’s exact needs.

4. Where can I buy high-quality grass seeds in Ireland?

You should choose a trusted grass seed supplier who provides certified, trialled varieties suited to Irish growing conditions. Specialist Nutrition offers tailored mixtures designed for grazing and silage systems.

5. Should I use clover seed in my new reseed?

Yes. Adding clover seed increases protein, reduces nitrogen fertiliser requirements and improves animal performance. A 20–30% clover content is ideal for most swards.

6. What is a multi species sward and should I consider one?

A multi species sward includes grasses, clovers and herbs. They improve drought tolerance, soil structure, animal health and nitrogen efficiency. They are increasingly popular for sustainable grazing systems.

7. Do I need maize seed or beet seed as part of my reseeding plan?

Not for grazing fields — but maize seed, sugar beet seed and fodder beet seed are excellent supplementary forage crops. Many farmers pair reseeding with a forage crop rotation to increase winter feed availability.

8. How often should I reseed my farm?

Most farmers aim to reseed 20–30% of the grazing platform every year. This maintains fresh, productive swards and ensures your crop seed investment yields long-term benefits.

9. Who can help me select the best grass seed mixture for my system?

Specialist Nutrition’s grass seed advisors can help you choose the right mixture for yield, grazing utilisation, clover content and soil type.