Clover systems

• Development of on-farm clover-based low input systems for beef and sheep production.

• Establishment over a three year period of a number of farms with at least 50 percent of their forage area devoted to clover dominant swards.
• A gross margin (based on grass/clover swards) within the top 33 percent of Northern Ireland beef/sheep farms as assessed by DANI. This will be achieved by :
  
  1. A Saving of 50 kg fertiliser nitrogen per hectare on grass/clover areas.
  
  2. Improvements in cattle and sheep performance.

• With the prospect of lower market prices there is a need for the development of efficient low cost feeding systems for beef cattle and sheep.
• Clover-rich grass swards / low fertiliser nitrogen systems are more appropriate to extensive farming as they are capable of reducing the need for fertiliser nitrogen.
• Research results have shown improved animal performance, when compared with all-grass swards / high fertiliser nitrogen systems.
• Incorporating clover-rich swards into all-grass farming systems requires a gradual conversion process which can be time-consuming and problematical.
• At present very few swards in Northern Ireland are managed to encourage good levels of clover.

• Technical information concerning:
  
  1. Seed mixtures and reseeding techniques to establish good clover swards
  
  2. Weed control
  
  3. Winter management of swards to maintain clover
  
  4. Grazing management guidelines including prevention of bloat
  
  
• Techniques for conversion from all-grass systems

• Monitoring of physical and financial performance of clover development farms using computerised recording packages.
• A development plan for each farm is drawn up and progress is closely monitored.

• Savings in fertiliser nitrogen usage and better animal performance are estimated to be worth on average £3,080 on each participating farm over a three year period.
• If 5 percent of beef and sheep farms in Northern Ireland convert to grass clover swards there could be a potential benefit in the region of £425,000 annually.