Red Clover

JMTHORNLEY

Member
Location
Glossop
When was it sown?
August 19. Will do another two years then be pulled for a root crop then down to a long term grazing mixture with white clover as is the plan over the whole farm. I’ve about 30 individual bits of ground that when one is done 15 years should have elapsed and then we start again with root crop, red clover mix, root crop, long term pasture and so on
 

JMTHORNLEY

Member
Location
Glossop
I usually aim to cut it here at the first flowers coming out. Which will be next week. Then second cut let it fully flower then third cut ideally at first flowers as well.
Why do you do that Sam? I usually cut when I feel the grass is ready at 3 nearly 4 leaf for sugar power in the fodder but is there some science behind letting it flower?
 

Samcowman

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Cornwall
Why do you do that Sam? I usually cut when I feel the grass is ready at 3 nearly 4 leaf for sugar power in the fodder but is there some science behind letting it flower?
From what I have been advised by letting it fully flower it makes the plants last longer. When I analysed the 2nd cut last year it was 17%protein compared to 18% from each of the other cuts and yielded more than first cut and the same as last cut.
 

Sid

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
South Molton
cut ours, clover shooting back already, lovely stuff.
looks good enough to eat.
It is...

Washed down with

 

som farmer

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
somerset
It is...

Washed down with

perhaps we have a lot more, to learn about the properties of clover.
the clovers are a 'magical' plant, with the knowledge we already know, could there be more ?

certainly @Sid bits of data, certainly agrees the uses of r/clover are wide and far reaching, so perhaps more uses to come, especially from the vegan community, should we exploit that avenue ? (joke)
 
This is one year old and will be the first proper cut off it.
There's a few flowers emerged in the last 24hrs and the grass is coming into seed , so the next 3 dry days I will be into it. Only 8 acres though.
IMG_20220518_122533_4.jpg
 

KennyO

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Angus
We have so ryegrass/ red clover in this year. Planning on clamping it with our other field of ryegrass. Hoping to do 3 cuts with each of them. We will chop it ourselves with a trailed chopper. Will be for feeding to beef stores/ finishers.

Really like the look of it and will probably sow another field this autumn.

Any extra advice from anyone? Should we use an additive (haven't used any for a few years now but do have an applicator)?
 

Great In Grass

Member
Location
Cornwall.
We have so ryegrass/ red clover in this year. Planning on clamping it with our other field of ryegrass. Hoping to do 3 cuts with each of them. We will chop it ourselves with a trailed chopper. Will be for feeding to beef stores/ finishers.

Really like the look of it and will probably sow another field this autumn.

Any extra advice from anyone? Should we use an additive (haven't used any for a few years now but do have an applicator)?
Definitely use an inoculant on Red Clover leys because of the higher concentration of protein, organic acids and minerals, which increases the resistance to pH drop (buffering capacity).

Cough, cough we offer a very good inoculant. ;)😅
 

som farmer

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
somerset
so, r/clover is a magic plant, as are most legumes
but how do we avoid v/wilt, and the need for a 4/5yr break, between reseeding ?
looking through a few seed brochures recently, it would seem, for non organic mixtures, clover usually is included at 1 kg/acre, yet more in organic mixes.
so, what is the 'ideal' amount of clover seed, to include, in a 'normal' seed mix ?
l am a fan of clover, and with fert at high price, N fixed by legumes, is/could be, an opportunity to counter N price, and its basically a free supply of N.
our clover over wintered very well, and pre 1st round grazing, with no fert applied, clover was at levels, l would expect in later summer, for 2nd round, 30 units N + S was applied, resulting in more grass, than clover - the amount of clover, where it 'should' be.
the amount of N clover can 'fix', is affected by soil structure, health and all the bugs fungi, that are present,
did the lack of the N fix, for grass, 1st round, let the clover 'come 'early', or co-incidence.
we have had the most grass for 1st cut, for decades - on less than 50% of normal fert. Same remarks for grazing, apply, catered for less grass, low fert, ended up with way to much.
 
so, r/clover is a magic plant, as are most legumes
but how do we avoid v/wilt, and the need for a 4/5yr break, between reseeding ?
looking through a few seed brochures recently, it would seem, for non organic mixtures, clover usually is included at 1 kg/acre, yet more in organic mixes.
so, what is the 'ideal' amount of clover seed, to include, in a 'normal' seed mix ?
l am a fan of clover, and with fert at high price, N fixed by legumes, is/could be, an opportunity to counter N price, and its basically a free supply of N.
our clover over wintered very well, and pre 1st round grazing, with no fert applied, clover was at levels, l would expect in later summer, for 2nd round, 30 units N + S was applied, resulting in more grass, than clover - the amount of clover, where it 'should' be.
the amount of N clover can 'fix', is affected by soil structure, health and all the bugs fungi, that are present,
did the lack of the N fix, for grass, 1st round, let the clover 'come 'early', or co-incidence.
we have had the most grass for 1st cut, for decades - on less than 50% of normal fert. Same remarks for grazing, apply, catered for less grass, low fert, ended up with way to much.
Look at the organic content then.....
Rc doesnt like too much Fertiliser on it
Re VW you need rotation 🤷‍♂️
 

crashbox

Member
Livestock Farmer
We have so ryegrass/ red clover in this year. Planning on clamping it with our other field of ryegrass. Hoping to do 3 cuts with each of them. We will chop it ourselves with a trailed chopper. Will be for feeding to beef stores/ finishers.

Really like the look of it and will probably sow another field this autumn.

Any extra advice from anyone? Should we use an additive (haven't used any for a few years now but do have an applicator)?
If possible and clamping it, cut both clover and non clover leys at the same time; then layer them in the pit, so you get a consistent silage through the winter.

This year I tedded the first cut grass, not the clover (to protect leaf) and put the grass only ley in the bottom. Grass only was dryer so will help suck up any effluent from the damper clover layer on top.
 

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