Agronomic performance and nutritive value of forage legumes in binary mixtures with perennial ryegrass under different defoliation systems

Abstract

SUMMARYProtein in forage legumes is often poorly utilized by ruminants and high nitrogen (N) losses are expected. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of forage legumes (white clover, WC; red clover, RC; lucerne, LG; and birdsfoot trefoil, BT) in binary mixtures with perennial ryegrass (G) under different defoliation systems (silage, simulated grazing and grazing) on agronomic performance and forage quality. A high proportion of legumes may favour dry matter (DM) yield and the defoliation system may reduce the persistence of certain forage legumes, with a negative influence on the energy and N yield. Annual DM yield under grazing was highest for WC mixtures (WC+G, 1059·2 g DM/m²) compared to all other mixtures, confirming its adaptation to grazing. Mixtures with RC (RC+G) and LG (LG+G) performed similarly to WC+G, whereas BT mixtures (BT+G) were less competitive under more intensively used systems. Analyses of crude protein, cell wall characterization and protein fractionation showed a three-way interaction between year, mixture and defoliation system. RC and BT resulted in a positive protein quality of the mixtures, probably due to their content of secondary plant compounds. In conclusion, different forage legumes did not perform equally in the cutting and grazing systems, and both legume species and defoliation systems interacted in the production of forage of high protein quality for ruminant nutrition.

Binary mixtures of alfalfa and birdsfoot trefoil with tall fescue: Herbage traits associated with the improved growth performance of beef steers

“…In many regions, including the western United States, birdsfoot trefoil is often considered a short‐lived perennial due to its lack of persistence under grazing. Several studies have documented that alfalfa and other legumes have better establishment and competitiveness than birdsfoot trefoil (Cuomo, Johnson, & Head, ; Kleen, Taube, & Gierus, ), and others have reported major birdsfoot trefoil stand decreases when grazed by livestock (Hoveland et al, ; Wen et al, ). However, in our study, birdsfoot trefoil stand frequency was greater ( p = .05) (88%) than alfalfa and persisted throughout one year of haying (see materials) and 2 years of grazing (Table ).…”

The effects of simulated summer‐to‐winter grazing management on herbage production in a grass–clover sward

“…White clover ( Trifolium repens ) is the most important legume for grazing in temperate regions (Frame et al ., ; Abberton and Marshall, ; Peyraud et al ., ). It is most commonly grown in association with perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne ) where it can improve sward crude protein (CP), organic matter digestibility (OMD) and herbage intake in ruminants (Bax and Schils, ; Søegaard, ; Wilman and Riley, ; Dewhurst et al ., ; Kleen et al ., ). However, the main attribute of clover is that it facilitates biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) via associated Rhizobium bacteria and thereby reduces the fertilizer nitrogen (N) requirements of agriculturally productive grassland (Rochon et al ., ; Gylfadóttir et al ., ; Humphreys et al ., ; Del Prado et al ., ).…”

Complementary effects of red clover inclusion in ryegrass–white clover swards for grazing and cutting

“…Red clover ( Trifolium pratense L.) is now also becoming more commonly used because of its high forage yield potential, despite its poor persistence and poor resistance to grazing (Frame, ). Grass–red clover mixtures have the additional advantage of improved nitrogen (N)‐use efficiency in ruminants due to their content of secondary compounds (Kleen et al ., ). There are very few reports in the literature on the inclusion of more than one clover species in temperate grass–clover mixtures (Frankow‐Lindberg et al ., ), but such a strategy could be a solution to achieve a flexible, high‐yielding sward suitable for both grazing and cutting in low‐input temporary grassland systems.…”