Responses of Kura Clover to Sheep Grazing and Clipping: I. Yield and Forage Quality

Abstract

Few perennial legumes have dependable long‐term productivity under grazing in the northern USA. Our objective was to determine the effects of frequent clipping and sheep(Ovis spp.) grazing on forage yield and quality of kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum. Bieb.), a rhizomatous perennial legume. Clipping and grazing trials were initiated on a 5‐yr‐old stand of ‘Rhizo’ kura clover on a Waukegan silt loam and conducted for 3 yr. Total season yield (mean of 8.6 Mg ha‐1) was unaffected by clipping frequency until the third year, when five and six cuttings per season produced 80 and 70% as much forage, respectively, as either three or four cuttings. In the second and third years of sheep grazing treatments, kura clover rotationally stocked with 14‐d rest periods produced 28 and 16% less forage, respectively, than that under rotational stocking with 28‐d rest periods. In contrast to total season forage yield, spring yield following 3 yr of clipping and grazing did not differ among clipping frequency increased from three to six cuttings per year, (Missing Data.) (CP) and in vitro digestible dry matter (IVDDM) concentrations increased from 222 to 254 and from 854 to 880 g kg ‘1 DM, respectively, and neutral‐detergent fiber (NDF) concentration decreased from 326 to 295 g kg‐1 DM. Forage was of high quality, because leaf concentration always exceeded 850 g kg‐1 of forage dry matter. Established kura clover is tolerant of frequent and close defoliation and warrants pasture use because of its long‐term productivity and high forage quality.

Comparative performance of Caucasian clover(Trifolium ambiguumcv. Monaro) after 11 years under low‐input conditions in south‐eastern Australia

“…Indeed it appeared that the plots of Monaro were more closely grazed than those of the other species. Caucasian clover can tolerate frequent, close defoliation while maintaining stand density under set-stocked conditions (Peterson et al 1994). The absence of Monaro in the germinable seed bank is an indication that it persisted because of vegetative reproduction and not because of seedling regeneration.…”

“…Although some modelling of the potential distribution of this legume has been attempted , there remains significant doubt as to the true range of its adaptation as few trials outside high altitude areas (> 800 m) have been reported. Recent studies have focussed on production, persistence, and quality under various cutting or grazing regimes (Allinson et al 1985;Sheaffer & Marten 1991;Peterson et al 1994). These studies have shown that Caucasian clover is best grazed over long rotations to maintain it as the dominant component and to maintain production overall.…”

“…These are slow establishment, low levels of seed production, ruminant bloat potential, and poor definition of climatic ranges Peterson et al 1994). Many of the studies have been carried out on swards containing a high proportion of Caucasian clover under conditions of relatively high nutrient availability (e.g., Allinson et al 1985;Shaeffer & Marten 1992).…”

“…Many of the studies have been carried out on swards containing a high proportion of Caucasian clover under conditions of relatively high nutrient availability (e.g., Allinson et al 1985;Shaeffer & Marten 1992). Persistence has been recorded mainly over periods of less than 10 years (e.g., Dear & Zorin 1985;Peterson et al 1994) but this has been either in ungrazed or well-fertilised swards. Some reports of long-term persistence (arbitrarily defined as greater than 10 years) have been made Yates 1993;Strachan et al 1994) but again these have been reported under ungrazed or infrequently grazed conditions.…”

Chemical composition and ruminal nutrient degradabilities of fresh and ensiled Kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum M.B.)

“…As with other temperate forage legumes, the seasonal yield distribution of Kura clover is uneven, producing most of its DM in the spring with forage accumulation and yields decreasing throughout the season (Peterson et al 1994a;Seguin et al 2000). Thus, conservation of excess forage is desirable.…”