What legume will keep growing into summer in a high rainfall permanent pasture?
We recommend our Red Clover. It is a late-flowering, summer-active perennial legume with high feed value and good summer growth. Its strong tap root gives it some drought tolerance. It suits 600mm+ rainfall areas on loam to heavy soils, and it is often sown as part of a permanent pasture mix.
Which clover is best for cutting hay or silage in the South West?
Red Clover is a good choice for hay and silage as well as grazing. It is highly productive, late flowering and has high feed value, and it keeps growing into summer. It is best suited to 600mm+ rainfall areas on loam to heavy soils. Talk to us about mixing it with a ryegrass for extra bulk.
How much red clover seed per hectare should I sow?
We recommend sowing Red Clover at 6 to 10 kg/ha. Inoculate the seed with Group B inoculant before sowing, which is different from the Group C used for sub clovers. It suits 600mm+ rainfall areas on loam to heavy soils. If you are adding it to a permanent pasture mix, talk to us about adjusting the rate.
What clover handles acidic, waterlogged heavy soils?
For acidic, waterlogged heavy soils we recommend Haifa White Clover, a perennial that tolerates low pH and waterlogging on sand to heavy soils in 500mm+ rainfall areas. Paradana Balansa Clover is a good annual option, tolerating waterlogging and acid soils to about pH 4.5. Our Red Clover isn't listed as tolerating waterlogging or low pH, so it is less suited here.
Is red clover safe for ewes at joining?
We do not list an oestrogen rating for our Red Clover, so please talk to us before grazing breeding ewes on it around joining. We recommend keeping it as one component of a mixed permanent pasture rather than a pure stand, and discussing the risk for your flock with your vet or adviser.
Can cattle bloat on a red clover pasture?
We do not list a bloat rating for our Red Clover, so we suggest caution with cattle on lush, legume-dominant pasture. We recommend sowing it as one component of a mix with grasses, introducing stock gradually, and talking to your vet about bloat prevention before grazing cattle on a clover-dominant stand.
When does red clover flower?
Our Red Clover takes about 140 days to flowering, which makes it a late-flowering legume. That late flowering and summer activity mean it keeps producing high-quality feed after many annual clovers have finished. Timing will vary with sowing date and district. It suits 600mm+ rainfall areas on loam to heavy soils.
I need a drought-hardy legume with a deep root for a permanent pasture, what should I use?
We suggest our Red Clover. It has a strong tap root that gives it some drought tolerance and good summer growth in 600mm+ rainfall areas on loam to heavy soils. For lower rainfall or lighter soils, a lucerne such as L70 Lucerne (400mm+) or Sceptre Lucerne (350mm+) is usually the better deep-rooted choice. Talk to us about your soil and rainfall.
What legume goes well in a perennial ryegrass and white clover mix for dairy?
We recommend adding our Red Clover to a perennial ryegrass and white clover pasture to lift summer production and feed value, as it is summer active, late flowering and suited to permanent pasture mixes. It complements winter-active white clovers such as Haifa White Clover. Our Irrigation Mix, which includes Haifa, and our IH Dairy Select Mix are also worth a look.
Red clover vs lucerne, which one should I sow?
Choose our Red Clover for 600mm+ rainfall areas on loam to heavy soils, where its summer activity and high feed value suit grazing, hay or silage. Choose a lucerne such as L70 Lucerne or Sceptre Lucerne for lower rainfall areas and sand to loam soils. Both are perennials; Red Clover uses Group B inoculant and lucerne uses Group AL.
