Brassica Reference Manual - Agricom

3. Companion Species with Brassicas
3.6 Red clover
Red clover, like chicory, is an essential forage component for high
performance stock systems. High palatability, a tap root that supports
summer production and a high degree of acceptance by all stock,
makes it excellent for use in a wide range of pasture situations.
Red clover usually persists for 2-4 years with lax or long summer
grazing rotations. In perennial pastures it is often included, at 4-6
kg/ha with white clover and herbs, or at 4-6 kg/ha with short rotation
ryegrasses or supplementary feed paddocks. Red clover can also be
established with other legumes and herbs (without grass) as a short
term, high quality summer forage for young stock finishing, with a
sowing rate of 6-8 kg/ha in this situation. This is one of the possible
options for a clover-herb multiple grazing brassica crop. Sowing red
Strong regrowth of Colenso following grazing of the Winfred brassica crop.
clover with a multiple grazing brassica will allow the successful
establishment of the clover in the first instance, and an increasing
dietary contribution over time. Red clover cultivars vary in their growth
habit, with erect types being more suited to hay but less persistent
under grazing.
Red clover cultivars can be divided into early and late flowering types.
Early types not only flower earlier but commence spring growth earlier,
and are generally more cool-season active. This may be useful in
production systems that require early legume content. Late flowering
types tend to be more winter dormant. Colenso and Sensation were
selected for lower oestrogen levels.
22
3. COMPANION SPECIES
WITH BRASSICAS