LOFA

Investing in productivity: experience with Lofa Festulolium

When it comes to creating a quality fodder base for 3–5 years, the seed selection question shifts from "what is cheaper" to "what will yield the highest protein output." In practice, using the Danish hybrid Lofa from DLF allows you to meet this need with minimal risks.

Growth dynamics and winter hardiness

The first thing you notice during operation is the growth speed. Lofa lives up to expectations for intensive stands: it kicks off in spring earlier than most classic ryegrasses and fescues. In our climatic conditions, resistance to snow mold has become a critical factor. After winter, the field emerges uniform, without bare patches, which saves resources on overseeding and leveling.

Practical use in fodder production

• Fast start: minimal gap between cuts, allowing for 3–4 full harvests of green mass per season.
• Nutritional value: the festulolium hybrid combines the energy of ryegrass with the endurance of fescue. Livestock readily consume this feed, and it shows high palatability both fresh and in silage or haylage.
• Usage period: 3–5 years is a realistic timeframe during which the stand does not degrade, provided basic fertilization regimes are followed and overgrazing is avoided.

Managing a field with Lofa does not require specific skills — it is a classic perennial grass. It forgives the types of technical errors common in intensive farms. The main thing I have noted as an agronomist is that the crop is very responsive to nitrogen fertilizer after each cut. If the fertilization schedule is maintained, yields remain consistently high throughout the years of use.