For optimal animal performance, farmers should alternate between 20 and 30 percent clover pasture and 70 to 80 percent grass pasture. This combination can provide adequate nitrogen to both grass and clover, as well as reduce competition in pasture. Farmers can avoid seeding by clipping pastures and can choose from various annual and perennial clover species. Red and white perennial clovers, for example, do not require seeding and can be easily established. Farmers should choose high-fiber annual clover varieties to provide ample fiber for their animals.
Red clover
While many livestock farmers are using rye as a substitute for oats in their cattle feeding program, red clover is a great alternative. It provides up to 20 per cent crude protein and can be harvested for up to two years. This crop has many advantages, including good forage yield and voluntary consumption. It is also drought-tolerant and resistant to winter cold. However, red clover is underutilized in conventional hay fields, which is why it is often interseeded in thinned alfa stands.
Before using red clover as a cattle feed, it is essential to determine its digestibility and nutritional value. Its digestibility is similar to that of alfalfa, but it should never be fed 100% to dry cows. It contains a lot of calcium, and too much may cause milk fever and other metabolic issues. However, red clover can be used as a roughage for replacement heifers and does not appear to have age-related limitations.
Moreover, red clover is a legume that has many advantages over other grasses. This plant is easily established and is tolerant of more shading than alfalfa. It has a higher amount of bypass and undegradable protein than alfalfa. The high amount of PUFAs and amino acids found in red clover also make it a high-quality hay source. Red clover requires a pH level of about 5.8, moderate potassium, and a high amount of potash.
Lucerne
Lucerne is an excellent choice for livestock feeding. The first cut of a lucerne crop is usually the highest yield of the year, and can make up to 35% of the total crop. Feeding lucerne to high-producing dairy cows at a 40 percent NDF level will provide them with all the necessary fibre for normal rumen function and high milk production. Moreover, this type of feed will also help reduce rumen fermentation, which results in better milk production and health.
During early growth, a cutting should be made at least seven to 10 days before the first killing frost. In contrast, cutting in the late fall reduces the persistence of the stand. For this reason, it is important to avoid cutting lucerne too early. Generally, it is recommended to wait between 28 and 33 days between the first and second cutting. In addition, the second cutting must be done a month after the first one.
Lucerne is considered the “queen” of forage because it is high in nutrient content and delicious for the cows. Harvesting lucerne early is beneficial for the health of the animals, but it also reduces the longevity of Lucerne stands. Therefore, some producers delay the harvest process to get the maximum yield. But this could lead to a degradation in the quality of Lucerne. It is important to remember that the quality of hay you provide will affect the animals’ health.
Sainfoin
Growing sainfoin is relatively simple, but there are some important factors to consider. Sainfoin is a highly drought-tolerant perennial legume that requires an alkaline soil with a pH range of 6.8 to 8.0 and receives 14 inches of rain per year. The plant has a long taproot, which makes it drought-resistant and drought-tolerant. However, it is susceptible to root rot. In addition, it has poor tolerance for acidity, waterlogging, and flooding.
Although sainfoin seed is a large kidney-shaped seed, it is difficult to thresh into the soil. A seed pod is difficult to break away from the plant, and mature sainfoin seed pods shatter easily when threshed. Sainfoin is often planted in fields with rich, organic soil. A seedbed with cultivated soil is preferable. Sainfoin should be planted at 25-35 kg per acre, as well as be planted in areas that have a lot of organic matter.
The benefits of sainfoin as a cattle feed are numerous. It has high content of condensed tannins, which bind to protein in the rumen and allow it to pass into abomasums. Sainfoin also has a deep taproot that makes it resistant to drought. Moreover, it is a legume, so a sainfoin ley can have high residual fertility after plowing.
