Jim Gerrish is the author of "Management-Intensive Grazing: The Grassroots of Grass Farming" and "Kick the Hay Habit: A Practical Guide to Year-around Grazing" and is a popular speaker at conferences around the world. His company, American GrazingLands Services LLC is dedicated to improving the health and sustainable productivity of grazing lands around the world through the use of Management-intensive Grazing practices. They work with small farms, large ranches, government agencies and NGO's to promote economically and environmentally sustainable grazing operations and believe healthy farms and ranches are the basis of healthy communities and healthy consumers. Visit their website to find out more about their consulting services and grazing management tools, including electric fencing, stock water systems, forage seed, and other management tools.
Jim – Do you find with that much clover in the sward that you lose the clover leaves with the frosts? Do you keep some more grass dominated swards for later winter grazing? We have wet winters with cold spells here.
What I have found over the years is that 50% grass is enough to carry good stockpile protection deep in the winter. This is especially true with taller growing grasses like tall fescue and meadow bromegrass. The clover tends to be below the grass canopy.
Alsike clover, red clover, and birdsfoot trefoil all have better leaf retention than does alfalfa. Alfalfa is the legume that really lets you down in a stockpile situation.
Jim – Do you find with that much clover in the sward that you lose the clover leaves with the frosts? Do you keep some more grass dominated swards for later winter grazing? We have wet winters with cold spells here.
Thanks
Rob.
Hey Rob,
What I have found over the years is that 50% grass is enough to carry good stockpile protection deep in the winter. This is especially true with taller growing grasses like tall fescue and meadow bromegrass. The clover tends to be below the grass canopy.
Alsike clover, red clover, and birdsfoot trefoil all have better leaf retention than does alfalfa. Alfalfa is the legume that really lets you down in a stockpile situation.
Jim