This is a custom alfalfa/grass /clover mix seeded last spring (2025) with Milkmaker Triticale & Pea Mix as a nurse crop. The motive for the mix was high digestibility for dairy cattle. Traditionally, he would have seeded straight alfalfa, but the grass has helped increase his tonnage, and timely harvest has led to highly digestible fiber.
Ingredients include:
20 lbs. Enduro 525 HD Alfalfa
Apex Green, OMRI-approved coating, non-GMO seed
Fall Dormancy – 4.9; WSI Rating – 1.1; DRI 33/35
Extremely high yielding; Fast recovery
Great persistence - aphanomyces race 1 & 2 resistance
Highly digestible – dairy quality forage
Great choice for highly aggressive management practices
2 lbs. Bearcat Medium Red Clover
OMRI-approved coating, non-GMO seed
Indiana-bred medium red clover
High forage yield with aggressive regrowth
Excellent stand persistence with superior disease resistance
Stand life of 3-4 years
2 lbs. Bronson Tall Fescue
raw, untreated, non-GMO seed
Improved low-endophyte, soft-leaf tall fescue
High-yielding, Persistent
Grazing trial winner at Penn State
Durable under many conditions
2 lbs. Dells Meadow Fescue
raw, non-GMO, uncoated seed
Deep-rooted, long-lived, cool-season perennial grass
Handles extreme environments; tolerates wet conditions and hot/dry months
More palatable and winter-hardy than tall fescue
Excellent companion to alfalfa and works well in pastures
Disease-resistant and tolerant to close grazing
Dells meadow fescue was originally selected to tolerate close grazing in horse pastures. It was later combined with top-producing varieties to improve yield. The result is a robust variety with a strong root system that is better equipped for extreme weather events like drought or waterlogged soils.
2 lbs. Albion Perennial Ryegrass
raw, untreated, non-GMO seed
Bred for exceptional drought tolerance
Reduced heading during drought stress
Maintains forage quality throughout summer
Excellent disease package, especially rust resistance
Shows improved persistence under grazing pressure at UK trials
2 lbs. Sugarcrest Festulolium
raw, untreated non-GMO seed
Perennial ryegrass X meadow fescue hybrid
Superior quality forage species compared to tall fescue
Winter-hardy hybrid with added drought tolerance, seedling vigor,
and high feed value
The farmer reported 3 cuttings in year 1 and is expecting (and hoping for) 5 cuttings this year.
