Instinct

Description

Fall Dormancy: 4.3
Winter Survival: 1.8
Disease Index Rating: 34/35

Instinct alfalfa has very high multifoliate leaf expression, high yield and improved forage quality. It also exhibits very fast recovery after cutting and very good drought stress tolerance.

Key Features

Excellent disease resistance
Highly Resistant to Aphanomyces Race 1 & 2
Excellent forage yield
Improved forage quality
Very high multifoliate leaf expression

ForageMax® by DLF offers a range of high-performance forage grasses and legumes tested for palatability, yield, persistency, and quality in North American climates. Our science-based approach ensures superior nutrition and economic benefits for milk and livestock production.

DLF Fiber Energy™ varieties feature enriched fiber digestibility, focusing on improving cell wall components to boost feed efficiency. These forages offer up to a 2% increase in digestibility, translating to more milk or meat production and reduced methane emissions.

General Characteristics

Segment Forage

Species Alfalfa

Sci. Name Medicago sativa

Plant Characteristics

Days to Flowering 38

Stem Thickness Medium

Early Spring Growth (CM) 33

Average Multifoliate Expression 3.1

Multifoliate (MF) Leaf Expression Frequency Very High > 76%

Cutting System 3-4

Emergence (Days) 7

Growth Habit, Spring Erect

Plant Height, Spring (CM) 113

Fall Regrowth (CM) 26

Root Characteristics

Root Type Tap

Forage Quality Characteristics

Seeding Information

Approx. Seeds/Lb. 227,000

Approx. Seeds/Kg. 500000

Seeding Rate - Alone/New (Kg./Hectare) 17-23

Seeding Rate - Alone/New (Lbs./Acre) 15-20

Seeding Rate - Mixes (Kg./Hectare) 7-15

Seeding Rate - Mixes (Lbs./Acre) 6-12

Pest and Disease Resistance

Bacterial Wilt Highly Resistant

Fusarium Wilt Highly Resistant

Verticillium Wilt Highly Resistant

Anthracnose (Race 1) Highly Resistant

Anthracnose (Race 5) Not Tested

Phytopthora Root Rot Highly Resistant

Aphanomyces Root Rot (Race 1) Highly Resistant

Aphanomyces Root Rot (Race 2) Highly Resistant

Aphanomyces Root Rot (Enhanced) Not Tested

Pea Aphid Highly Resistant

Blue Alfalfa Aphid Not Tested

Cowpea Aphid Not Tested

Spotted Alfalfa Aphid Not Tested

Potato Leafhopper Not Tested

Stem Nematode Resistant

Northern Root Knot Nematode Not Tested

DLF YIELD COMPARISONS
Variety	Years	Total Yield	Yield Index	Total Cuts	Number of
Variety	Years	(kg/ha)	(%)	Total Cuts	Station Years
Instinct	2009-'24	11134.1	101	275	84
PICKSEED 2065MF	2009-'24	11005.4	100	275	84
Instinct	2018-'23	11463.1	100	67	21
Spredor 5	2018-'23	10881.9	95	67	21
Instinct	2009-'23	10176.6	102	161	51
Vision	2009-'23	10068.3	101	161	51
Instinct	2014-'21	11581.3	104	145	47
135	2014-'21	11161.9	100	145	47
Instinct	2009-'18	10776.5	104	147	47
OAC Superior	2009-'18	10576.4	102	147	47
Instinct	2014-'16	12496.5	110	48	15
WL 333	2014-'16	11579.5	101	48	15
Instinct	2014-'16	8441.1	N/A	27	10
Geneva	2014-'16	8420	N/A	27	10


DLF YIELD SUMMARY
Variety	Years	Total Yield	Yield Index	Total Cuts	Number of
Variety	Years	(kg/ha)	(%)	Total Cuts	Station Years
Instinct	2010-'24	11141.2	101	288	87


UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN YIELD COMPARISONS
Variety	Years	Total Yield	Yield Index	Total Cuts	Number of
Variety	Years	(kg/ha)	(%)	Total Cuts	Station Years
Instinct	2013-'16	12207.7	N/A	24	7
Oneida VR	2013-'16	10126	N/A	24	7
Vernal	2013-'16	11446.2	N/A	24	7
Instinct	2013-'16	14619	N/A	15	4
Raven	2013-'16	14283	N/A	15	4
Instinct	2013-'14	12994.2	N/A	7	2
ROADRUNNER	2013-'14	12711.7	N/A	7	2

PUBLIC YIELD SUMMARY
Variety	Years	Total Yield	Yield Index	Total Cuts	Number of
Variety	Years	(kg/ha)	(%)	Total Cuts	Station Years
Instinct	2013-'16	12207.7	N/A	24	7