Red clover (Trifolium pratense) is a tap rooted legume with high feed value. It has good summer growth and drought tolerance, but little winter growth. It performs best on free draining soils under moderate stocking rates, long summer grazing rotations or hay production. Under high stocking rates or fast summer grazing rotations its persistence is reduced.

 

Red clover is commonly sown as a component of a perennial pasture in summer dry areas, to boost summer growth and feed quality.

 

Red clovers contain phyto-oestrogens so care should be taken if feeding to breeding stock during mating. (This mainly applies in the late summer and autumn periods when red clover is growing well). Phyto-oestrogen levels vary between red clover cultivars