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Fearga Red Clover
Feraga is the first-ever Red Clover variety to be bred under Irish conditions for Irish farmers. The breeding objectives of Fearga were to overcome poor yield and persistence to make Red Clover more reliable and attractive to use for farm systems. Fearga has proven better than the current standard in total yield and persistence. This is proven by independent results from the England and Wales recommended lists (See below)
By overcoming the challenges of red clover, Fearga will help increase Red Clover usage in our farm systems, reducing our dependence on imported chemical nitrogen and concentrate feeds. At such a crucial time, Fearga will better the environmental footprint of our animal production systems.
Feraga was bred using traditional breeding technologies. High performing Red Clover plants under Irish conditions and management were intercrossed at Teagasc OakPark, Carlow.
To learn more about red clover husbandry, please click here:
England and Wales Recommended List of Red Clover Varieties 2021/2022
| Mean of G Varieties | Fearga | |
|---|---|---|
| Conservation Management | ||
| Total Yield: 1st harvest year (% of 12.34 t DM/ha) | 100 | 103 |
| Total Yield: 2nd harvest year (% of 13.07 t DM/ha) | 100 | 108 |
| Total Yield: 3rd harvest year (% of 9.73 t DM/ha) | 100 | 109 |
| Total Yield: Mean (5 of 11.91 t DM/ha | 100 | 106 |
| Seansonal Growth: 1st Harvest Year | ||
| 1st cut (% of 5.06 t DM/ha) | 100 | 95 |
| Protein content %: 1st cut | 17.8 | 17.1 |
| Agronomic Characters | ||
| Ground Cover % (1st harvest year) | 68 | 64 |
| Ground Cover % (2nd harvest year) | 56 | 59 |
| Ground Cover % (3rd harvest year) | 49 | 51 |
Explanation of table
Currently, there are no independent recommended list trials for Red Clover in the Republic of Ireland. England and Wales have an extensive trialling network, with Fearga performing as follows:
Fearga performs better than the mean of the recommended varieties for:
- Yield in all three harvest years
- Exceptional yield advantage in Year 3 inferring more remarkable persistence over existing varieties
- The highest available mean yield compared to any of the existing recommended red clover varieties.
- Better ground cover in year two and year three further conforming to improved persistence
