Digestibility and palatability of multispecies swards

Multispecies swards, combining legumes, grasses and herbs, offer not just diversity above ground but also superior digestibility and palatability for livestock. These factors directly influence energy intake, animal performance and grazing behaviour. 

Well-managed multispecies swards typically exceed 70% dry matter digestibility (DMD), especially in the early part of the grazing season. This is a critical factor in how much energy animals extract from their forage. 

Digestibility is linked to metabolisable energy (ME). A simple rule of thumb is: 

D-value (%) × 0.16 = approximate ME (MJ/kg DM) 

For example, a sward with a D-value of 72% provides about 11.5 MJ/kg DM – a strong energy source for growth or milk production. 

Understanding and managing for higher digestibility helps farmers interpret forage analysis and select varieties that maximise livestock performance. 

• Spring and early summer – swards are more digestible due to high leaf content and lower fibre levels 

• Late summer and autumn – plants become more fibrous and stemmy, reducing DMD unless managed with timely grazing or cutting 

Diverse swards are not just nutritious they are also more appealing to livestock especially in early growth stages. 

Livestock prefer multispecies swards as they offer a variety of flavours, aromas and textures that encourage them to eat.  

This supports: 

• Steady liveweight gain in beef and sheep systems 
• Strong milk yields in dairy systems 
• Better resilience during poor weather or grazing conditions 

Spring to early summer – herbs like plantain, yarrow, and chicory are leafy and highly palatable. 

Mid to late summer – chicory may bolt and become bitter. Maintaining grazing pressure at this stage keeps palatability high. 

Autumn – many species retain palatability well into late autumn if vegetative growth is managed carefully. 

Livestock graze more evenly across diverse swards than monocultures – leading to better pasture use and more uniform regrowth. 

Animals showed increased preference and intake in multispecies swards over ryegrass-only systems. 

Diverse swards encourage longer grazing times and reduce patchy or selective grazing. Herbs like chicory and plantain improve grazing distribution across paddocks.