A Practical Guide to Environmental, Cover Crop, Game Cover and Forage Seeds

Page 9

09

PLANTAIN

SHEEPS BURNET

SAINFOIN

BIRDSFOOT TREFOIL

A perennial herb providing a high mineral forage with a crude protein content of around 20%. Plantain provides all-year round grazing, even in drought conditions. Often mixed with other herbs, this species provides well tillered plants in high density mixtures that will complement the grazing system.

A perennial herb which helps to provide a long grazing season attributable to its early spring growth. A well-established taproot improves drought tolerance within a sward whilst aiding the supply of vital trace elements to livestock.

Sainfoin acts as a natural anthelmintic and the condensed tannins this legume contains aids protein absorption thus improving feed conversion efficiency by livestock. Unlike other species, Sainfoin will not cause bloat in livestock and as little as 10% in a sward will offset the risk of bloat created from other legumes. Best suited to light soils, the deep rooting system of Sainfoin provides a droughtresistant forage that requires no nitrogen fertiliser and little phosphate. This legume prefers alkaline soils and although slow to establish, it is a persistent species. Sainfoin also increases biodiversity by attracting an abundance of insects and invertebrates, especially pollinators.

A nitrogen-fixing, anthelmintic species which helps boost soil fertility. Like Sainfoin, this species contains tannins to support the absorption of protein by both sheep and cattle. Birdsfoot Trefoil is continually included in diverse mixtures owing to its contribution of beneficial properties both above and below the soil surface.

Pack size 1kg & 25kg

Pack size 1kg & 25kg

SHEEPS PARSLEY Often mixed with other forage herbs, this species has a deep taproot that is able to lift trace elements from great soil depths whilst also aiding drought tolerance. Recognised for its high iron content along with vitamins A and C, Sheeps Parsley can prove a valuable addition to grazing swards. Pack size 1kg

Pack size 1kg & 25kg

Sowing rate 85 - 90kg/ha Pack size 1kg & 25kg

YARROW A forage herb with a very deep rooting structure that has been noted to improve circulation and blood flow in livestock. Yarrow is commonly mixed with Sheeps Parsley, Burnet and Plantain although due to its minute seed size, should only be included at a low rate to ensure that it does not dominate the sward.

CHICORY A mineral-rich herb with a long taproot which infiltrates the soil to a great depth and can break through soil compaction. Chicory is a high protein, anthelmintic species that lifts trace elements from within the soil profile that are then made available for intake by livestock. This highly productive species is especially good for fattening lambs. If not well managed, chicory can become tall and woody therefore good management is essential to maintain feed quality. Pack size 2kg & 25kg

Pack size 1kg

LUCERNE A persistent, perennial legume that performs particularly well on light, drought prone soils due to its deep, penetrating root system. The roots improve soil structure and aid fertility by fixing atmospheric nitrogen. Above the soil surface, Lucerne produces a high protein, palatable forage crop that is an excellent accompaniment to energy feeds in a ration.

RED CLOVER

Pack size 25kg Organic seed available in 25kg packs (Limited)

Pack size 1kg & 25kg Organic seed available in 25kg packs

A high protein, nitrogen-fixing forage legume that can be grown on almost all soil types. When grown as part of a mixture, clover greatly increases the forage yield for both grazing and cutting.

E N V I R O N ME NTAL

Herbs and Legumes


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