Why red clover is gaining popularity as a sheep feed

Red clover is gaining in popularity as a sheep feed, in the wake of rising concentrate feed and fertiliser prices, according to William Fleming of grass and forage variety breeder, Germinal.

Red clover’s high protein content makes it an excellent feed for ewes and lambs, whether it is grazed, or fed as silage, said Mr Fleming.

“It really comes into its own in midsummer when grass cover can experience a dip, especially in drought conditions. Current varieties grow from a single crown and have a much deeper tap root, compared with grass. Plant growth is triggered when soil temperatures reach eight to ten degrees centigrade. It will release any nitrogen that it does not need for its own development, making it available to the companion plants and offering potential savings on fertiliser inputs.

“Red clover is one of the main sources of nitrogen for organic livestock producers, who are looking to improve soil fertility without the use of chemical fertilisers and maximise kilograms of feed dry matter per hectare for their flocks.”

While a minority of producers use straight red clover mixes, he advises a maximum inclusion rate of 25 per cent.

“Plant breeders are working on reducing the potential health risk posed by red clover, but it can cause bloat in ruminants, if fed at very high levels. The other issue is its phyto-oestrogen content, which can affect ovulation in ewes. For this reason, it should be removed from the ewe diet in the six weeks pre- and post-tupping time. Nevertheless, red clover is a tremendous feedstuff; it simply requires careful management.”

Mr Fleming recommended some options for grazing strategies.

He said: “Red clover swards make an excellent feed for accelerating lamb growth rates, particularly as they approach the finishing period. Meanwhile, ewes can be grazed on swards containing a high percentage of red clover post-lambing, as it will help to boost milk production. It can also help to maintain target ewe condition scores.”

He offered some advice on making silage from red clover.

“The red clover seed inclusion rate is the same as for grazing, at 25%,” he said. “Its growth pattern will complement the grass element of the sward. First cut silage will be predominantly grass, but as the soil warms up the red clover will flourish. Managed with care, it should make up a high proportion of second cut silage. A typical grass/red clover silage will have a crude protein content of 14-19 per cent.”

In general, sheep performance on red clover silage will exceed the figures indicated by the sample analysis, he pointed out.

“The NIRS (near infrared reflectance spectroscopy) silage analysis system is calibrated to measure the components of grass. However, red clover is a different species, so an analysis may not fully reflect its nutritional content. A dataset is being developed, to improve the accuracy of red clover silage asessment.”

Producers who are planning to establish red clover and grass mixes should consider a couple of main points, he said.

“The ideal soil pH is 6.2-6.5 and the grass should be grazed, to remove the thatch in the base of the sward. The next stage is to use the harrow to finish the task. It is very important to remove this dead material if the red clover is to flourish, because the material is acidic, and it also restricts seed to soil contact. It will also help to ensure that the young red clover plants have access to light in the early stages of growth.

“After sowing, the field can be grazed tightly, removing the sheep after the red clover seed has germinated, to prevent damage in the establishment phase. It should be monitored for pests and diseases, as it is susceptible to stem eelworm, as well as the soil borne fungal pathogen, sclerotinia. Several breeding lines with improved resistance to these threats have been identified and they are currently being used to develop new varieties.

“Research is also ongoing to improve the persistence of red clover. It will typically last for two or three years, although we have launched AberClaret, the first five-year variety. The development of varieties with a longer productive life will make the species more compatible with medium-term grass leys for sheep grazing and silage production.”

He predicted that red clover would continue to grow in popularity as a sheep feed.

“It went out of fashion in the era of low nitrogen prices, but rising fertiliser costs and a pattern of summer droughts that have depressed grass yield in some areas have led to an increase in demand. Red clover has the potential to slot into flock management systems, to fill that gap.

“In my grandfather’s day, red clover was considered an important species. Like many other trends in farming, we seem to be turning the clock back in order to move forward,” concluded Mr Fleming.