Incorporating white clover into grassland swards

College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) beef and sheep adviser, Nigel Gould has shared how incorporating white clover into grass swards

can help reduce fertiliser inputs while maintaining performance. He said: “Mixed white clover/grass swards, when managed effectively, have the potential to reduce chemical nitrogen inputs by 150-180 kg N/ha, while maintaining grass yields, compared to a grass-only sward.” Gould added: “Volatility in supply and price of chemical fertiliser in recent years, in addition to environmental concerns have led to a renewed interest in the incorporation of white clover into both grazed and silage swards. “To achieve the optimum benefit, white clover content needs to be 20-30%. “Clover content is often overestimated visually and that 20–30% botanical composition may look like 40–60% ground cover at peak growth.” Environment According to Gould, research has shown that “increased daily live weight gain can be achieved in both cattle and sheep grazed on mixed white clover/grass swards”. He said: “This is in part due to the higher dry matter intakes associated with increased palatability, ...