BRITISH GRASSLAND SOCIETY

Bringing together those with an interest in grass and forage production and utilisation

European Grassland Symposium 2025

EGF 2025 Symposium Themes

The three themes for the symposium are:

Theme 1 – Agronomic considerations of multi-species swards

Theme 2 – Animal production impacts of multi-species swards

Theme 3 – Impacts of multi-species swards on the environment  

Topics included under the three themes are listed below.

Theme 1: Agronomic considerations of multi-species swards

This may include but is not restricted to:

  • Extension of the growing season
  • Morphological specificities, like rooting depth, to adapt to climatic changes
  • Species mix complexity
  • Productivity response to plant diversity
  • Yield stability
  • Grazing effects, e.g. effect of grazing rotation length and sward management on sward composition
  • Conservation techniques for multi-species swards
  • Designing mixtures for specific purposes and locations

Theme 2: Animal production impacts of multi-species swards

This may include but is not restricted to:

  • Nutritive analysis – analytical techniques
  • Nutritive value
  • Digestive efficiency, e.g. degradability of components (protein, fibre)
  • Animal health and welfare, e.g. benefits of tannins, anthelmintic properties
  • Feeding behaviour, e.g. grazing selection

    Theme 3: Impacts of multi-species swards on the environment

    This may include but is not restricted to:

    • Greenhouse gas emissions
    • Methane emissions and rumen fermentation characteristics
    • Resilience to environmental disturbance
    • Water security
    • Plant protection in crop rotations
    • Carbon sequestration
    • Soil structure and health
    • Prevention of soil erosion
    • Fauna diversity/biodiversity
    • Nutrient cycling, e.g. fertiliser inputs, use of slurry and farmyard manure, legacy effects in arable rotations, denitrification inhibitors

    EGF 2025 Partners and Sponsors