Red clover

Red clover silage swards can meet the forage requirements of an organic farm whilst improving the protein content and overall feeding value of the winter forage.

Red clover is better suited to silage production than white clover because of its much more erect growth habit and its significantly higher forage yields. When grazed, avoid overgrazing and leave at least 30 days between grazings to allow sufficient recovery time. It is important to avoid plant crown damage by trampling hooves. Red clover does not spread like white clover, so a good distribution of seedlings is important from the outset of a new sward.

Characteristics of red clover

Good break crop to improve soil structure and fertility and to supply organic matter
Relatively drought tolerant, but doesn't like wet or compacted soils
Good palatability encourages high intake and good animal performance
High protein content in silage (16 - 20 percent Crude Protein)
ME of 10 - 12 MJ/KG DM, depending on stage of growth
Produces well for two to four years

Making red clover silage

Low dry matter, water soluble carbohydrate and high buffering capacity
More difficult to get good fermentation than grass silage
Wilt 24 - 48 hours to 25 percent dry matter
Over wilting can result in leaf shatter and loss
Inoculants, enzymes and molasses (organic) can be used as additives
Best sown along with grass

Managing red clover based swards

Red clover varieties such as Merviot, Marcom and Kuhn have good yield and Sclerotinia resistance. A newer variety, Milvus, has improved productivity and persistence. Red clover is generally best sown along with grass. Competitive, short duration ryegrasses are the best companion grasses for red clover. Hybrid ryegrasses, bred by crossing Italian and Perennial Ryegrasses, are often very suitable.

Red clover will perform best on well drained, fertile soils with a pH of 6 - 6.5. Typical annual nutrient requirements for an annual yield of 10-12 t DM/ha/year would be 100-150 kg P2O5 and 250-300 kg K2O /ha which can be supplied by cattle slurry, FYM or composts.

Animal Problems

Breeding ewes should not generally be grazed on red clover swards around mating time. The high levels of oestrogen in the plant can reduce lambing performance. However, some of the modern varieties have been bred for low oestrogen content and organic farms have achieved a good lambing percentage on swards with a moderate red clover content owing to its high feed value and ability to flush ewes.

Bloat is a potential hazard when swards with a high red clover content are grazed. Feeding long roughage, such as straw or hay, before turning stock onto such pasture can reduce the risk. Never allow hungry cattle to gorge themselves on clover-rich swards. Moving stock onto dry rather than wet pasture reduces the risk. Affected animals should be removed and may be treated with anti-foaming agents such as proloxalene.

Alsike clover

Alsike clover could be an option for land which is too heavy, wet or acidic to support red clover. It has an upright growth habit and generally lives for two years, but sets seed freely if allowed to mature.

Yields of up to 10.7 t DM/ha in the first year and 7.7 t DM/ha in the second year are reported in Great Britain.