Incorporating multi-species swards into your grazing platform Multi-species swards are a sustainable source of high-quality forage. As well as producing high yields of quality forage, sowing multi-species can lead to a significantly reduced Nitrogen fertiliser requirement as well as increased animal performance and health. Multi-species swards produce large quantities of highly digestible forage rich in minerals and high in protein for grazing livestock. Apart from a couple of small fertiliser applications in spring, multi species swards are almost totally N self- sufficient. Having a mixture of grass and multi species swards on the grazing platform will ensure a steady supply of the highest quality forage through spring, summer, and autumn, buffering against drought and reducing the cost of forage production. Speak to Specialist Nutrition to help you select the best multi-species mixture for your situation. “The light type of soil we have is always a struggle during the summer months with as little as a week without rain putting the farm under pressure. Finding a forage that would withstand these conditions and fit into our intensive farming system proved difficult. After speaking to Nigel Condell, we selected the multi species 6 Species Herbal Ley mixture as the best fit for my situation. The multi-species sward proved to be a massive hit with my herd! So much so that I am continuing to work with Nigel on a reseeding plan that will incorporate the 6 Species Herbal Lay mixture into the rest of the farm over time.” Tom, Patrick, and Philip Murphy, Co. Kilkenny.
Managing clover in the sward The incorporation of white clover into grass swards has the potential to significantly reduce the reliance on inorganic N fertiliser and increase the financial and environmental sustainability of Irish farms. One of the significant benefits of clover is its ability to fix N in the soil in a form that becomes available to grass in the sward. As a forage, white clover is highly digestible, with crude protein content averaging over 20%. The use of white clover in grass mixtures can offset up to 150kg N/ha per year in inorganic N fertiliser. This is equivalent to 7 bags of 18.6.12/acre. For maximum benefit, a sward should be managed to 20-30% white clover content.
+800kg DM/ha
Opportunity to reduce N fertiliser
Dry matter intake +1.5kg/cow per day
Milk solids +30kg MS/cow per year
White Clover is included in all Specialist Nutrition grass mixtures. A high yielding White Clover Blend Oversow is also available.
“We used the Specialist Grazer Mix when reseeding and overseeding this year. We are extremely impressed with how this mix has grown on our heavy soil farm. The tetraploids in the mix rated very high on the PPI for palatability, and the cows have proven that with excellent graze outs.” Diarmuid Lee, Co. Galway.
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