Berseem Clover

High quality forage with excellent bulk for silage and hay

Trifolium alexandrinum (inferred from species, not stated in the guide)

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Soft seeded erect annual clover with rapid establishment vigour. Suited to medium-high rainfall areas growing in autumn, winter and spring and to neutral fertile alluvial and medium to heavy soils. High quality forage and bulk for silage and hay providing multiple cuts and commonly used in mixes with other legumes or annual ryegrasses. Rapid establishment. Low cold tolerance and low risk of bloat.

Key attributes

  • High quality, nutritious and productive forage
  • Fast growing annual legume for winter feed
  • Good regrowth after cutting
  • Suits multiple cuts through the season
  • Highly palatable to all livestock

About this variety

Berseem is an annual clover grown for one thing above all: bulk of high quality feed in a short time. It is fast growing, highly palatable, and productive enough to be cut several times through a season rather than grazed once and finished.

That multiple-cut ability is what separates it from most annual clovers. Regrowth after cutting is strong, so a stand can be taken for silage or hay and then come again, which suits a grower who wants conserved feed and grazing from the same paddock in the same year.

Nutritionally it is a high quality forage, with the protein and digestibility expected of a well grown clover, and it is highly palatable to all classes of livestock. That combination of quality and sheer bulk is why it is often used in irrigated or high fertility situations where the water and nutrition are available to push it.

Berseem is an annual and does not persist, so it is sown for the season it is needed rather than as a long-term pasture legume, either alone or as the legume component in a short-term ryegrass mix.

How it's sold

FormPackStatus
Bare25 kgIn stock
Berseem Clover

FAQs

What clover can I cut several times for silage on heavy soil in a high rainfall area?

We recommend Berseem Clover. It is a soft-seeded, erect annual that gives high quality forage and bulk for silage and hay over multiple cuts. It suits neutral, fertile alluvial and medium to heavy soils in 550mm+ rainfall areas, growing through autumn, winter and spring.

How much Berseem clover seed should I sow per hectare?

We recommend sowing Berseem Clover at 8 to 10 kg/ha. It establishes rapidly, which makes it good for quick feed or a fodder cut. Inoculate the seed with Group C inoculant before sowing. It is commonly sown with annual ryegrasses or other legumes.

I need a fast-establishing legume for a short-term fodder paddock. What should I plant?

Berseem Clover is a good choice thanks to its rapid establishment vigour. It is a productive annual for medium to high rainfall (550mm+) on loam to heavy soils and provides high quality forage for grazing, hay or silage. It flowers late, at around 144 days in Perth, giving a long growing season.

Is Berseem clover a bloat risk for cattle?

Berseem Clover carries a low risk of bloat, which is one reason it is popular for cattle fodder. It produces nutritious, high quality forage and bulk. We still recommend introducing hungry stock gradually and mixing it with ryegrass for balanced feed.

What legume handles wet feet and a little salt on heavier ground?

Berseem Clover tolerates waterlogging and mild salinity, and it prefers neutral, fertile medium to heavy soils. It suits 550mm+ rainfall and gives multiple cuts of hay or silage. For more saline wet ground, Strawberry Clover or Kyambro Persian Clover are also worth discussing with us.

Will a clover survive frosty winters in the Great Southern?

Berseem Clover has low cold tolerance, so heavy frosts can slow or damage it. In cold, frosty areas we would look at other clovers suited to your rainfall, such as Kyambro or Shaftal Persian, or Crimson Clover. Talk to us about your location and soil type.

What should I sow with Berseem clover for a hay or silage crop?

Berseem Clover is commonly used in mixes with annual ryegrasses or other legumes. We stock Italian ryegrasses such as Amass and Tetila that pair well for bulk silage. Berseem is also an ingredient in our MaxiMix. Sow Berseem at 8 to 10 kg/ha on its own, lower in a mix.

Will a soft-seeded clover regenerate next year if I cut it for hay?

A soft-seeded annual like our Berseem Clover is not designed for reliable self-regeneration, as most seed germinates quickly and cutting removes seed set. We treat it as a productive annual forage that is resown as needed. For regenerating pastures, a hard-seeded option such as Paradana Balansa is better.

Is there a clover for irrigated dairy country that gives good winter and spring bulk?

Berseem Clover suits high rainfall or well-watered dairy systems on fertile, medium to heavy soils. It grows through autumn, winter and spring and provides multiple cuts of high quality forage. Sow it with an annual ryegrass for extra bulk, or consider our IH Dairy Select Mix.

Berseem vs Persian clover for silage, which should I use?

Both make quality silage. Berseem Clover is soft seeded, establishes rapidly and suits neutral, fertile loam to heavy soils with 550mm+ rain, flowering around 144 days. Our Shaftal Persian is also soft seeded and late (about 140 days), while Kyambro Persian is hard seeded and regenerates better.