Germinal is a global plant breeder with operations in the UK, Ireland, and New Zealand, supplying international markets with cutting-edge forage cultivars.
All New Zealand pasture cultivars are tested locally at Germinal Horizon Broadfield, our trials site near Lincoln. This ensures any cultivars available in New Zealand are proven to work here.
What sets Germinal pasture cultivars apart is their ability to deliver on pasture performance and animal production while supporting sustainability.
Aber High Sugar Grass: Energy-efficient pasture
Aber High Sugar Grasses (HSG) are true perennial ryegrasses that have 17% higher water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) compared to standard ryegrasses.
This matters because the additional WSCs improve the natural digestive energy imbalance that causes ruminant animals to waste much of the protein they consume.
With Aber HSG pasture, livestock can capture more of the protein from grass to improve production and reduce methane emissions.
AberGain tetraploid
A late-heading (plus 24) tetraploid perennial ryegrass, AberGain can yield around 12,000kg DM/ha in a year. With strong growth late in spring, it provides quality grazing or cutting forage options. As a tetraploid, AberGain is highly palatable to livestock, helping increase animal production, particularly in a dairy platform.
AberGain is also densely tillered for a tetraploid, helping it better withstand wet weather and compete with new weed growth. Available with the AR1 endophyte, AberGain is ideal for farmers throughout the lower North Island and South Island.
AberGreen diploid
With AberGreen, farmers have a diploid perennial ryegrass option potentially yielding around 13,000kg DM/ha each year. Producing vigorous ground cover due to its tiller density, AberGreen offers enduring persistence and outstanding late spring yields, as found by the NZPBRA.
Compared to standard ryegrass, AberGreen is 5.5% higher in digestibility¹, resulting in increased meat and milk production. AberGreen is also available with the AR1 endophyte and is suitable for use in the lower North Island and the South Island.
DoubleRoot hybrid clover
Germinal is also renowned for breeding game-changing clovers. DoubleRoot is a world-first cross between white and Caucasian clover species. Unique to DoubleRoot clovers is the ability to grow above and below ground, granting protection from drought and cold shock down to -30°C.
AberLasting is the first cultivar in the DoubleRoot range, giving you a persistent clover that naturally fixes nitrogen and reduces fertiliser inputs while fuelling livestock production.
AberClaret red clover
A longer-lasting red clover with greater grazing tolerance, AberClaret was still producing over 14.6t DM/ha in year four of a trial at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences at Aberystwyth University in Wales.
After four years, AberClaret was significantly out-yielding and outlasting established cultivars such as Merviot and Milvus.
Bred for greater persistence, AberClaret is a red clover ideal for farmers wanting to produce quality forage and silage that is high in digestibility, highly palatable and has elevated protein levels over other feeds.
What farmers think of Germinal pasture cultivars
Andrew Barlass, dairy farmer, Methven:
“We want to maximise the amount of metabolisable energy produced per hectare, and the cows milk better off the high sugar grass."
Scott McKenzie, sheep and beef farmer, South Otago:
“The majority of our farm is planted in Germinal seed. The stock love it. Sheep certainly like the High Sugar Grass, as they will often eat that over other recognised varieties. All of our clovers are from Germinal, and the pasture seems to really hang on in the dry.”
Vaughan Jones, dairy farmer, Canterbury:
“Growth is consistent. Some varieties continue to go to seed, whereas Germinal pasture stays in leaf with very good autumn and summer growth. It is highly palatable and persistent pasture, and cows really enjoy grazing it.
“AberLasting [DoubleRoot] is a very competitive clover, which you can’t say about other clovers out there. The paddock is six years old now and still thriving.”
Jason Erb, dairy farmer, Otahuti:
“The thickness of the Germinal pasture is a key advantage, as it doesn’t go stalky. This means the pasture quality is easier to maintain, and we achieve higher yields."
Helen Andrews, cattle finishing, Canterbury:
“Changing the pasture into AberLasting [DoubleRoot] with its deeper root system has given us confidence in its performance year-round.”
¹Plant Research (NZ) Ltd (2014). Unpublished. Mean digestibility values were measured across five harvests at Ashburton from Oct 2013 to Mar 2014.
Ask for Germinal pasture grasses and clovers
You can ask your local seed merchant for Germinal pasture grasses and clovers.