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Do forage legumes have a role in modern dairy farming systems?
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2009
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D.R. Woodfield and D.A. Clark. Do forage legumes have a role in modern dairy farming systems? Irish Journal of Agricultural and Food Research 48: 137–147, 2009
Abstract
Intensification in New Zealand dairy farming systems has placed greater pressure on
clover performance and fitness and has highlighted the need to develop clover cultivars
that are better adapted to intensive grazing systems. Increased stocking rates and
increased use of nitrogen fertiliser have put enormous pressure on the contribution of
clover to modern dairy systems. Future innovations such as semi-hybrid cultivars offer
the potential to improve the competitiveness of legumes with nitrogen-fertilised forage
grasses. Similarly, advances in condensed tannin research suggest that significant
animal performance gains can be achieved in conjunction with reduced environmental
impact. In order to capture these benefits, dairy farmers will need to reassess their grazing
management to ensure that legumes can be maintained at economically useful levels.
Novel grazing management systems that optimise the benefits provided by the grass and
legume components need to be used in future dairy farming systems. Forage legumes,
and especially white clover, have an important role to play in modern dairy systems.