Harvest. Making Forage Analysis Work for You in Balancing Livestock Rations and Marketing Hay Relative feed value is not tested. Overmature second cutting red clover hay may have a fungus that causes animals to slobber. I would estimate that during that time the intake of red clover was never less than 50 percent. Red clover is an out-crossing, insect-pollinated species; isolation is required for seed production areas. Prefers well-drained loamy soils, but tolerates moist soils. Faster establishing than alfalfa. Feedipedia. Shorter stand life than alfalfa and white clover. There are over 300 types of clover between which we mostly encounter: white clover; red clover Red clover in a corn>soybean>wheat/red clover rotation in a reduced-input system out-performed continuous corn in a four-year Wisconsin study. Clovers are best cut for hay when in full bloom. https://onpasture.com/2018/03/19/how-to-establish-and-managing-red-clover Seed yields of up to 800 kg/ha have been achieved, but are more commonly between 250 – 600 kg/ha in specialist seed production paddocks. Royalty-Free Stock Photo. I'm pretty dissatisfied with it but it's all I have right now. The most widely planted forage legume after alfalfa. Red clover hay. Approximately 18-25kg per conventional bale PLEASE NOTE THIS PRODUCT IS PICK UP IN STORE ONLY $ 24.00 NZD inc GST. Cut later, it loses palatability. Red clover can spread through the actions of stock passing the hard seed. For three-year rotations including two full years of red clover, the clover can be incorporated or surface-applied (clipped and left on the field) for green manure, cut for mulch or harvested for hay (120). Legumes in hay are ideally cut pre-bloom. Sampling Hay, Silage, and Total Mixed Rations for Analysis UW Extension Bulletin A2309. RFV. Best suited to well-drained, fertile, slightly acid to neutral soils. However, red clover… Red clover as a cover crop after wheat. It can reach a height of three feet and produces fine leafy stems and pink flower heads. Medium red clover is best suited for the Midwest. The hay I got is absolutely full of what I am pretty certain is red clover (pics attached). What is the best way to cure red clover hay? Use an herbicide if you want to remove clover from your pasture or hay field. Red clover is commonly used for hay, grazing, weed suppression, and soil building. I have heard that sometimes cattle eating sweet clover, especially hay with sweet clover in it can have problems. Most growth occurs in summer and autumn. When well managed and properly fertilized, newer varieties of red clover can potentially yield 4 to 5 tons of good quality forage. Rate: 8-12 lb/a Depth: ¼-½ in Primary Date: Feb 1-Apr 15 Secondary Date: Aug 1-Sep 15. If cut late, the stems become woody, lose their palatability and the general value is considerably lessened. Seeding. Red clover seedlings at the first unifoliate stage. Figure 3. Hay may also include legumes, such as alfalfa (lucerne) and clovers (red, white and subterranean). Other pasture forbs are also sometimes a part of the mix, though these plants are not necessarily desired as certain forbs are toxic to some animals. We have arrow leaf clover down here and I have never heard that about it. Red clover is a legume that is widely grown throughout the United States as a hay or forage crop. This species is grown as short-lived perennial (3-5 years) in the north and as a winter annual in the south.Product Features:Medium Red Clover S Good, 1st cutting, Medium, Red Clover Hay. (July 22, 2015) Figure 2. It can be harvested a little later and still have the feed quality of alfalfa harvested earlier. Red clover generally establishes quickly and can grow on soils too wet or too acid for alfalfa. Clover, especially red clover, takes longer to dry than other forage species. Is It Safe to Feed Horses Red Clover Hay? Performance of Lactating Dairy Cows Fed Red Clover or Alfalfa Silage by Pat Hoffman (emeritus), UW Extension Dairy Scientist, Marshfield Ag Research Station . They assure chewing movements for a longer period of time. Red clover turns brown even when dried properly and, therefore, red clover hay will not appear green like other good-quality hays. Plus it's kind of stalky. By the time its dry, leaves are falling off and leaves nothing but burnt blooms and hard stems.... Is it best when the clover is.thick to ted it out right.after we cut it, wait a day and then ted it...???? Animal feed resources information system. Feedipedia There are many other kinds of clover, but I have only heard of problems (other than curing) mostly in alsike and red clover and some with sweet clover. Lucerne (alfalfa) and Clover hay are too high in protein and calcium. Have 30 Large Round bales ready right now, with another 100-150 on the way. Equine nutritionist Dr. Clair Thunes addresses a horse owner’s concerns about feeding red clover over the winter. The re-growth of this legume was considerable. Red clovers are short-lived perennials that will persist 3 to 4 years. 0 items in cart Red clover hay introduced at up to 30% in balanced diets in place of alfalfa meal (0, 33, 66 or 100% replacement) did not alter growth, digestibility and mortality (Grandi et al., 1988), indicating that red clover hay could be used safely in complete diets for rabbit feeding. Horses do not like it green but will readily eat it in hay. Posted by Clair Thunes, PhD | … See Full Listing. Clover hay is a desirable feed source for most horses because it provides useful energy and acceptable protein and long fibre. About Red clover is a common plant of all kinds of grassy areas in the UK, from lawns to pastures, roadsides to meadows. Producer Question from 2015 Q: I have a lot of sweet clover in my hay fields and pastures this year. Red clover is an introduced short-lived perennial legume that’s used for hay, pasture and soil improvement. This legume is often used in grass mixtures predominantly for a cutting regime. Download preview Red clover is the most common clover hay because it grows taller than white clover and thus provides more yield per acre. First harvest: May 1-May 15 Hay is dusty. RED CLOVER HAY. However, red clover’s boron requirement is lower. Quick growing and easy to establish, red clover is best partnered with grass species. The sweet taste is due to the high sugar content, so care should be given when feeding. Figure 4. Suited to high rainfall with a good proportion of it during summer. Dense stand red clover. It is sown as a fodder crop for livestock and has long been used in crop rotation systems because of its ability to fix nitrogen, enriching soils. Heavy first cuttings are difficult to cure. Red Clover Cutting Management. What can I do to avoid these problems? For hay and silage, red clover is harvested 2 or 3 times at early flowering stage. Note the cotyledon leaf is still visible. Close-up red clover hay texture background. Palatability is usually not an issue, however, as horses are inclined to love the taste of clover and eat it well. That's actually what it mainly seems to be. Crimson clover is another tall-growing type but tends to be higher in indigestible fiber than red clover. If cut earlier, it is more difficult to cure. It is a late flowering type and usually produces only one hay crop in this region. Harvesting red clover for square bales - posted in Alfalfa/Hay: Hey folks. Red clover also tolerates higher levels of manganese than alfalfa, which is one of the reasons it thrives in northern Wisconsin’s acidic soils, which are naturally high in manganese. Mammoth red clover is better suited for northern areas with shorter growing seasons, such as Canada. Figure 5. Good shade tolerance. Clover seed products contain clover seeds produced at our facilities. Liming red clover fields to a pH of 6.0 to 6.3 will boost production. I've got about 70 acres of clover/orchardgrass/timothy mix. 75. They are superior to clover or clover hay. Red clover is grown as a forage for grazing, and for feed as cultivated hay. Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) Description: A short-term (2–3 years) perennial legume. They providing adequate amounts of fibers for gastrointestinal and dental health. Improved red clovers are a fast-starting, highly productive and more persistent than older common types. We grow red clover seeds and market red clover seed products to agricultural seed customers. Medium Red Clover is a popular legume crop grown for forage, cover cropping, and wildlife food plot plantings. Its extensive root system and deep tap root can penetrate multiple feet, providing access to nutrients and moisture over other more shallow-rooted clovers. Red Clover has its highest feeding value when in full bloom and should be cut for hay before the heads begin to turn brown. Red clover does better than alfalfa in areas with low soil pH or fertility, and poor soil drainage. 2000 Bales of Small Square Alfalfa Mixed Grass. The fields I grazed were either small pieces of straight red clover or old hay fields that had been frost-seeded with this legume and then harvested. If you do not understand the ideal dietary recommendations, consult an animal feed expert, veterinarian, or other qualified professional. 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