AbstractA total of 2225 samples of herbage, typical of that taken for first‐cut silage on commercial farms in England and Wales, was taken between 1988 and 1991. Samples were analysed for dry matter (DM), water soluble carbohydrate (WSC), crude protein (CP) and metabolizable energy calculated from modified acid detergent fibre. The results were used to investigate the effect of weather conditions upon herbage quality for ensilage. In general, in areas of high rainfall, i.e. western areas, herbage DM and WSC were significantly lower than in eastern areas, whilst the reverse situation occurred with CP. Italian ryegrass (IRG) had a significantly higher WSC and lower CP than other grasses, whilst samples from permanent pasture (PP) had significantly lower DM and WSC, and significantly higher CP than other grasses. It was calculated that to produce a WSC concentration in the fresh grass of 37 g kg−1, to produce well‐fermented silage without additive use, IRG grown in the east would require a DM of 160 g kg−1, In contrast PP grown in the west would require a DM content of 25