Use
Sainfoin is the best forage species available for meeting the protein
requirements of ruminant animals. It is used either for lamb, milk
or beef production and can be both grazed or conserved for winter forage.
It is bloat free and drought resistant. It is well documented that stock performance
when fed on sainfoin is far superior when compared with other forages. This
is due to its very high palatability leading to high voluntary intake and
to higher protein absorption by the animal. Protein content is approx 20%.
Typically, it provides a heavy cut for silage or hay in June and then regrows
for grazing during the summer. It is leguminous and requires no artificial
nitrogen once established.
Yield
We recently conducted a review of sainfoin strains at The Royal Agricultural
College. We are pleased to report yields of 14t DM/ha for the better strains.
Interestingly the more productive strains showed markedly better regrowth,
an essential trait if growers are to re-use this valuable species. In addition,
we continue to work in conjunction with NIAB to evaluate sainfoin’s
compatibility with grasses.
Field Choice
Free draining soils with a pH of 6 or above are essential for the best results.
Compacted or wet lying soils are to be avoided.
Sowing & Establishment
It is advisable to drill in the spring. Autumn sowing is
risky as the seedlings are slow growing at first and do not have time to develop
before the onset of winter. For spring sowings it is ideal to undersow a spring
cereal. Priority has to be given to the sainfoin. Sow the cereal at half the
recommended sowing rate. Ideally cut the cereal, usually spring barley, for
silage at the milky stage. 40 kg of N in the seedbed will encourage faster
establishment. The first year of sainfoin should be treated as an establishment
year with full production not being realised until the following spring. Weeds
can be controlled by topping or with herbicides, but ideally a clean seedbed
is preferred.
Suitable Soil
Under the right conditions sainfoin will outyield other crops such as red
clover and lucerne. Successful crops of sainfoin are grown on free draining
soils with a minimum pH of 6.5. If you soils meet both these requirements
then read on.
Sainfoin
seeds are approximately 4mm long and are contained within a husk. The seed
should be sown at 25-35 kg per acre (60-85 kg/ha), the higher rate being used
when seedbed conditions are poor or a late sowing is envisaged. The seed is
usually drilled to a depth of 1-2 cm.
NON ORGANIC
£2.65 per kg
Sainfoin
Four Year Grazing/Cutting Crop
Grass
Option
Ref.
MIXLUC 65% ORGANIC
We recommend the use of a non-competitive grass mixture to be sown with Lucerne.
The grass assists the silage fermentation process, contributes to yield and
fills the base of the crop, therefore providing some competition against weeds.
Sow grass and lucerne seed at 10 mm.
2.60 kg certified LAURA ORGANIC meadow fescue
0.40 kg certified ROSSA or similar meadow fescue
1.00 kg certified PROMESSE timothy
4.00
kg per acre £15.22 (10 kg/ha £38.05)
