Does anyone know the proper name of this moutain grass?

HillFarmer

Hi guys,

The white grass that grows on hill and mountain land (green in Spring and Summer), does anyone know the name. I think locals around here call it finan.

Picture attached

Does anyone know the feeding value of it? presuming its fairly low.

Conmaicne Mara

Molinia I believe (purple more grass could be another name for it).

the_syco

I'm bored in work, so Googled this for ye. Interesting.

Conmaicne Mara wrote: »

Molinia I believe (purple more grass could be another name for it).

Both terms, "Molinia caerulea" and also "purple moor grass" are used by various sites. From the following link, it looks like it may be of poor feeding value for cattle, but that they can still eat it.
http://www.snh.org.uk/publications/on-line/advisorynotes/47/47.htm

2 25 Cattle cannot graze short grassland efficiently but, because of their larger gut size, have a greater ability than sheep or red deer to digest poor quality forage. As a result they are more likely to move onto mat-grass or purple moor-grass in summer. Most breeds of cattle grazed in the hills currently have to be taken off in winter. Hardy breeds can be left on all year but will normally need supplementary feeding in winter. Cattle need to have a water supply and will often concentrate around it on hot days.

Doesn't look like it's of much value to sheep, however.

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Have a look for Molinia caerulea in
http://www.landbunadur.is/landbunadur/wgsamvef.nsf/5ed2a07393fec5fa002569b300397c5a/e1d62ead8a3bd2af00256e15004bd6e0/$FILE/gr-bu7-rha.PDF
and on page 39 it talks about how it effects the diet of animals.

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http://www.doeni.gov.uk/niea/purplemoorgrass_pdf-5.pdf talks about the various Purple Moor Grass in Northern Ireland, and how it grows in various habitats.

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http://www.conservationevidence.com/individual-study/3496 talks about how different sheep (Swaledale and Hebridean sheep) are at controlling the Purple Moor Grass.

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Finally, look for "deficiencies in nutritional value of the purple moor grass" in http://www.grfa.org.uk/media_files/publications_animal/bd1318_54_frp.pdf and on the last few lines of page 5 talks about this.

Although I could be wrong, I think this last document seems to have the information that you require, as it talks of Purple Moor Grass and how livestock eat it.

HillFarmer

the_syco wrote: »

I'm bored in work, so Googled this for ye. Interesting.

Both terms, "Molinia caerulea" and also "purple moor grass" are used by various sites. From the following link, it looks like it may be of poor feeding value for cattle, but that they can still eat it.
http://www.snh.org.uk/publications/on-line/advisorynotes/47/47.htm

Doesn't look like it's of much value to sheep, however.

=-=

Have a look for Molinia caerulea in
http://www.landbunadur.is/landbunadur/wgsamvef.nsf/5ed2a07393fec5fa002569b300397c5a/e1d62ead8a3bd2af00256e15004bd6e0/$FILE/gr-bu7-rha.PDF
and on page 39 it talks about how it effects the diet of animals.

=-=

http://www.doeni.gov.uk/niea/purplemoorgrass_pdf-5.pdf talks about the various Purple Moor Grass in Northern Ireland, and how it grows in various habitats.

=-=

http://www.conservationevidence.com/individual-study/3496 talks about how different sheep (Swaledale and Hebridean sheep) are at controlling the Purple Moor Grass.

=-=

Finally, look for "deficiencies in nutritional value of the purple moor grass" in http://www.grfa.org.uk/media_files/publications_animal/bd1318_54_frp.pdf and on the last few lines of page 5 talks about this.

Although I could be wrong, I think this last document seems to have the information that you require, as it talks of Purple Moor Grass and how livestock eat it.

Thanks Syco your a gent, some good reading for me for the next few days

Lano Lynn

isnt the internet just a fantastic tool for an enquireing mind .
It can cure ignorance in moments,
if only stupidity could be irradicated so easily.
thank you to all who share their wisdom.