Viability of Grass-White Clover Swards for Dairying Production in the UK

The potential of extensification to reduce production within the BC has increased interest in the use of white clover (Trifolium repens) for milk production. In a long-term system study to determine the potential of white clover, 2 herds of 70 cows were managed on either grass swards plus 350 kg N/ha/annum or on grass-white clover swards which received no inorganic N. Continuous grazing and up to 3 conservation cuts a year had no adverse effects upon clover contents in the mixed swards. Total silage OM yields/ha from the grass-white clover swards were 0,82, 0.81 and 0.96 of those obtained from the fertilised swards. When both herds were managed at the same stocking rate {2.4 LU/ha) the clover-based system required up to 33% more concentrates per litre milk sold. Reducing. the stocking rate to 1.9 LU/ha on the clover-based system equalised concentrate inputs. The total financial surplus generated by both systems was similar.