Grazing management for clover/ryegrass and multispecies swards

Effective grazing management is fundamental to maximising the productivity and sustainability of both clover/rye-grass leys and multispecies swards. Through rotational grazing, strategic height control and rest periods, farmers can enhance pasture utilisation, boost animal health, support sward resilience and promote ecosystem functions.

Rotational grazing involves dividing pastures into smaller paddocks and moving livestock between them.

This technique is central to maintaining consistent growth and preserving the nitrogen-fixing abilities of legumes like white and red clover.

To maximise rotational grazing:

• Limit grazing to no more than three days per paddock. Extended grazing reduces legume productivity and nitrogen (N) fixation
• Allow four to six weeks of rest between grazing. This ensures legume recovery and promotes sustainable pasture growth

Strategic control of grazing height maintains plant health, forage quality and nitrogen fixation.

• Start grazing: When sward height reaches 10–15 cm to protect legume content and avoid selective overgrazing
• Post-grazing regrowth: Allow regrowth to 8–10 cm before reintroducing livestock
• Clover/ryegrass swards: Aim for 4–6 cm grazing height to maintain forage quality

• Early spring/late autumn: Maintain slightly higher heights (~10 cm) to reduce stress on slower-growing plants
• Summer: Graze at 6–8 cm to balance quality and regrowth capacity
• Forage maturity: Time grazing to maximise nutrient intake while supporting clover regeneration

Rest between grazing cycles is essential for clover/rye-grass swards to replenish root reserves and support nitrogen fixation.

Align with flowering and seed set:

• Resting pastures during clover flowering and seed set phases supports natural regeneration and persistence
• Synchronise grazing rest periods with clover growth cycles for sustained nitrogen contribution and productivity

Healthy soil is the foundation of productive and sustainable multispecies swards. It is important to test soil nitrogen every two to three years to assess legume contribution and identify deficiencies.

Also evaluate sulphur levels, as sulphur is vital for protein synthesis and nitrogen fixation in legumes.

Recognising nutrient deficiencies in soil:

• Symptoms of yellowing clover leaves and stunted growth could mean nitrogen or sulphur deficiency
• Symptoms of poor clover persistence could mean overgrazing or nutrient imbalance
• Symptoms of yellowing grass or poor tillering could mean insufficient nitrogen from legumes

Managing soil deficiencies:

• Adjust grazing pressure by reducing intensity and extending rest periods to support clover recovery
• Make rotational adjustments to prevent overgrazing in early spring/late autumn when N fixation may decline
• Supplement soil by using organic manures, compost or synthetic fertilisers to address deficiencies. Provide high-protein forages if pasture nutrition is low

By integrating rotational grazing, optimal height management, rest periods and nutrient monitoring, farmers can improve the productivity, resilience and ecological function of both clover/rye-grass and multispecies swards.

In late spring to early summer:

• Nitrogen availability is high due to active clover growth
• Ensure grazing strategies promote clover persistence and legume contribution

In late summer to autumn:

• Nitrogen availability declines as clover activity slows
• Monitor sward health and consider supplementation to support livestock performance

These practices reduce dependency on synthetic inputs, enhance biodiversity and ensure a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable forage system.