Multi-year performance of white clover oversown into eastern North Island hill country

Animal performance on summer-dry North Island hill country pastures is limited by soil fertility and the challenge of establishing and retaining a strong legume base in swards on steeper slopes. However, this can be overcome by 1. selecting legume species adapted to the various slope, aspect and soil type combinations; and 2. following well-recognised establishment and management techniques developed in the 1980s. We broadcast white clover in two large southerly aspect paddocks on Tangihanga Station, Gisborne, in the autumn of 2019. Establishment methods involved resident pasture control by hard grazing and selective herbicide to supress dominant low-fertility grasses, broadcasting at high sowing rates and trampling of seed with sheep. We followed white clover persistence and animal performance over the subsequent 5 seasons of rotational cattle grazing with heifers and steers, in comparison with adjacent unsown paddocks. The cost of establishment was c. $220/ha. White clover abundance remained high throughout the 5 years, between 25-40% of cover, compared with 7-17% in unsown paddocks. This increase in clover content of the pastures translated into both increased stocking rates and per head growth rates, with overall annual LWG increasing by 67-169% depending on season. The investment was paid back within the first year.