Briefing

At Teagasc Athenry, researchers have been investigating the use of mixed swards in pasture-based sheep production systems. The results suggest increased diversity may be beneficial for animal performance.

In recent years, there has been growing interest in the inclusion of clovers and herbs into grassland seed mixes to form more diverse sward mixtures. These mixed swards have the potential to improve sward quality and increase animal intakes leading to significant improvements in animal performance.

Clovers are associated with increased crude protein content in the sward and a reduced requirement for artificial nitrogen application through biological nitrogen fixation. Deep rooting herbs such as plantain and chicory are drought-tolerant and can uptake minerals from deeper in the soil, giving a high mineral content in the sward. An experiment was established in Teagasc Athenry in 2018 and ran for four production years (2018-2021) investigating a range of mixed swards and their impacts on both sward and animal performance under a pasture-based sheep production system.

Link to briefing

Related Organisations

Connected Content

Grass in farming is interconnected with livestock systems for their feed, in the form of grazing, haylage and silage, and is also used as 'leys' (short-term grasslands) to regenerate soil structure and quality.

The livestock industry is an integral part of the agricultural sector, encompassing various aspects of animal husbandry and production. It plays an important role in global food security and supports the livelihoods of millions of people worldwide.

Animal nutrition plays a crucial role in livestock agriculture for several reasons, as it directly impacts the health, productivity, and overall wellbeing of farm animals.

Sheep were one of the first farmed animals, reared for thousands of years for meat and milk.