OverviewMaris Kestrel kale is a high yielding brassica forage crop with high winter tolerance. It’s excellent leaf-to-stem ratio gives it the potential to provide a significant quality forage option.- Ideal forage crop for out-wintering- Potential for late autumn grazing to fill forage deficits for all management systems- Relatively short grazing height makes it suitable for grazing sheep or fattening lambs, as well as all classes of cattle

Maris Kestrel in detail

For more information about our product range and how to sow, visit germinal.co.uk Quality Forage Options

Product Info Sheet

Invest in establishment• Select a site that has not grown

brassicas for at least five years• Ensure optimum soil fertility

(pH 5.8-6.5; soil index 2 for P and K)• Control weeds before sowing• Prepare a seedbed to give good

soil- to-seed contact

High yields of quality forage• Yields 11-12 tonnes DM/ha• ME of 10-13 MJ/kg; Protein 19-20%• Utilisation of 85-90% due to high

leaf-to-stem ratio

Germinal seed

Available in 5 and 25kg bags.

• Apply seedbed fertiliser according to you soil indices and the recommendations in the RB209, top-up N after 6 weeks if soil indices and timings permit

• Sow in May or June to maximise the potential of your crop

• Allow around 20 weeks for crop to reach full maturity

Ideal for out-wintering Maris Kestrel is the flexible grazing kale bred for intake, digestibility and animal performance. It demonstrates vigorous early growth, is resistant to lodging and tolerates hard winters. Research has shown that Maris Kestrel – with a superior leaf-to-stem ratio – delivers better animal performance, irrespective of total dry matter yield.

• Avoid fields with heavier soil types or that are steeply sloping• Ensure the site provides some shelter for livestock and access to water • Fence stock off any open water courses• Place bales in the crop to provide at least 30% of the diet dry matter as supplementary fibre• Allow an area of run-back

Exceptional utilisation

Germinal (GB)Camp Road Witham St. Hughs Lincoln, LN6 9QJ

01522 868 714lincoln@germinal.comgerminal.co.uk

Product Info Sheet

Planning for out-wintering

• Strip grazing with daily movement of the fence is important in order to maximise utilisation• Calculate the daily allowance (distance to move the fence) based on target dry matter intake per head of livestock, allowing 30% dry matter from fibre source• Introduce stock gradually to kale crop, ensuring restricted access over the first 7-10 days• Consider double fencing, to make daily movement easier and to provide added protection against break-out