A review of the use of chicory, plantain, red clover and white clover in a sward mix for increased sheep and beef production

Abstract

<jats:p>Many farmers are sowing mixed swards containing chicory (Cichorium intybus), plantain (Plantago lanceolata), red clover (Trifolium pratense) and white clover (T. repens) (hereafter termed herb and clover mix). This herb and clover mix has comparable annual dry matter (DM) production to perennial ryegrass white clover pasture (rye/wc), however, it has a different pattern of growth, producing more DM during summer and autumn. The herb and clover mix also has a higher nutritive value and is able to support greater rates of animal production, especially over summer, than rye/ wc in both sheep and cattle. The herb and clover mix is most suited to a rotational grazing interval of 3-4 weeks to an 8 cm residual height, with no winter grazing. When managed appropriately the herb and clover mix is able to persist for at least 2 years and up to 5 years under both sheep and cattle grazing. Keywords: Cichorium intybus, Plantago lanceolata, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, legume, perennial, nutritive value.</jats:p>

The effect of increasing pasture species on herbage production, chemical composition and utilization under intensive sheep grazing

“…Previous authors have reported differences in herbage nutritive composition between herb/clover mixtures and perennial ryegrass and white clover swards (Golding et al., ; Hutton et al., ; Somasiri et al., ). The herb/clover mixtures had lower fibre content, similar CP content, higher OMD and metabolizable energy content than the PRG and white clover mixtures in those studies (Cranston, Kenyon, Morris, & Kemp, ). However, the likely nutritional benefit of herb and clover inclusion in the sward was partially diluted by the presence of grass in the swards in the current study compared with the swards reported by the aforementioned authors.…”

Resiembra natural de plántulas de Plantago lanceolata cv. ‘Ceres Tonic’ en una pradera establecida

“…The paddocks were strip grazed every 6-8 weeks throughout summer/autumn and again in spring, by either dairy cows or by calves ( Table 2). The paddocks were not grazed during winter (June to August), as per best practice grazing management recommendations for plantain-dominant swards (Ayala et al, 2011a;Cranston et al, 2015a). The paddocks were grazed when the pre-grazing sward height reached a minimum of 25 cm, down to a 7 cm post-grazing residual (~1800 kgDM/ha).…”

“…Grazing management was not altered in the current study to facilitate the natural reseeding of plan-tain. However, given that the paddocks were not grazed during winter, or grazed below 7 cm, as per best management practice for plantain dominant swards (Ayala et al, 2011a;Cranston et al, 2015a), this may have been beneficial to the survival of seedlings. Regardless, the success of natural reseeding in this study suggests that no change in spring or summer management is needed to enable successful plantain seedling recruitment.…”

“…Plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) is a high yielding, summer active perennial herb which can maintain high nutritive value during warm summer conditions (Lee et al, 2015;Minnee et al, 2013;Powell et al, 2007). Plantain is increasingly being utilised in diverse pas-ture mixes (Nobilly et al, 2013;Pembleton et al, 2015;Woodward et al, 2013), in mixes with chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), white clover (Trifolium repens L.) and red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) (Cranston et al, 2015a), or as a monoculture (Lee et al, 2015;Minnee et al, 2013) for enhanced animal production in dairy as well as in sheep and beef systems. SPECIAL ISSUE ON PASTURES Natural reseeding (seedling recruitment) has been suggested as a means by which pasture swards can either maintain persistence or be rejuvenated (East et al, 1979;Hume et al, 1990).…”

Improved per hectare production in a lamb finishing system using mixtures of red and white clover with plantain and chicory compared to ryegrass and white clover

“…These herb and clover species as monocultures or as mixtures are utilised in temperate climates in North America (Sanderson et al, 2005;Lombardi et al, 2015), Australasia (Reed et al, 2008;Raeside et al, 2014;Pembleton et al, 2016) and in Europe (Marley et al, 2003;Andersen et al, 2009) for sheep and cattle production. Recently, it has been reported that herb clover mixtures containing plantain, chicory, white and red clovers can improve lamb live weight gain and carcass weights in spring, summer and autumn (Golding et al, 2011;Cranston et al, 2015;Somasiri et al, 2015a,b;Somasiri et al, 2016a,b). These studies however were season specific while the forages utilised are perennial species and therefore productivity on both an annual and multiple year basis is of interest to farmers.…”