Publication Date

1985

Location

Kyoto Japan

Description

Research with Persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum, ssp. majus) cv. Mara!, in south eastern Australia shows it to be productive and well adapted to waterlogged soils. It is particularly productive in spring when compared with other clovers. Winter production can be increased by sowing Persian clover with Westerwolds ryegrass or oats but the yield of clover in the spring is therby reduced. Persian clover conserved as hay was found to have a low neutral detergent fibre content (28.1 % ). In a 60 day feeding trial, lambs were fed Persian clover hay (78.5% digestible dry matter), lucerne hay (63.0% DDM), grass/sub. clover pasture hay (62.0% DDM) or oaten hay (59.9% DDM). The dry matter intake (DMI) for Persian clover hay and lucerne hay was 1.3 and 1.2 kg/day respectively. Fasted liveweight gain (LWG) was considerably greater for the former hay (viz. 0.16 kg/day vs. 0.09 kg/day). Grass/sub. clover and oaten: hays were low in feeding value with DMI less than 1.0 kg/day and LWG less than 0.06 kg/day. Persian clover hay containing c 20% Phalaris aquatica also resulted in increased LWG of cattle relative to those fed lucerne hay (0.69 vs. 0.50 kg/day).

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The Cultivation and Feeding Value of Persian Clover

Kyoto Japan

Research with Persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum, ssp. majus) cv. Mara!, in south eastern Australia shows it to be productive and well adapted to waterlogged soils. It is particularly productive in spring when compared with other clovers. Winter production can be increased by sowing Persian clover with Westerwolds ryegrass or oats but the yield of clover in the spring is therby reduced. Persian clover conserved as hay was found to have a low neutral detergent fibre content (28.1 % ). In a 60 day feeding trial, lambs were fed Persian clover hay (78.5% digestible dry matter), lucerne hay (63.0% DDM), grass/sub. clover pasture hay (62.0% DDM) or oaten hay (59.9% DDM). The dry matter intake (DMI) for Persian clover hay and lucerne hay was 1.3 and 1.2 kg/day respectively. Fasted liveweight gain (LWG) was considerably greater for the former hay (viz. 0.16 kg/day vs. 0.09 kg/day). Grass/sub. clover and oaten: hays were low in feeding value with DMI less than 1.0 kg/day and LWG less than 0.06 kg/day. Persian clover hay containing c 20% Phalaris aquatica also resulted in increased LWG of cattle relative to those fed lucerne hay (0.69 vs. 0.50 kg/day).