Non-bloating legumes reduce risk in alfalfa/grass pastures

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

When seeding cultivated land to perennial forage for pasture, producers are sometimes reluctant to include alfalfa in the seed mix because of the risk of bloat.

However, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food Forage Development Specialist Lorne Klein, there are some non-bloating legumes such as sainfoin and cicer milkvetch that can help producers deal with that risk.

“The advantage of including alfalfa with grass is the opportunity to reduce the need for nitrogen fertilizer on your pasture,” said Klein. “Studies have shown that alfalfa/grass combinations without nitrogen fertilizer will produce forage yields equal to pure grass stands receiving 35 to 150 pounds per acre of nitrogen fertilizer.”

The good news is that producers can get the lion’s share of the legume advantage even if they just have 40 per cent alfalfa in their pasture stand. They don’t need to graze the full 100 per cent alfalfa.

One strategy to reduce the risk of bloat is to include non-bloating legumes in the seed mix, along with alfalfa and grass.

Sainfoin is a relatively early growing legume, and is suggested for pastures where early season grazing is planned. A suggested seeding rate for a pasture mix is 10 pounds per acre sainfoin, one pound per acre alfalfa, and four to seven pounds per acre grass.

“The nitrogen fixing capability of sainfoin is not well known, so alfalfa in the mix is still recommended for that purpose,” said Klein. “The sainfoin will reduce bloat risk, as long as it is consumed with the alfalfa.”

Cicer milkvetch is a legume that is slow to start growth in spring, and retains its leaves into late summer and fall. It is therefore better suited for summer and fall grazing.

A suggested seeding rate for a pasture mix is three pounds per acre cicer milkvetch, one pound per acre alfalfa, and four to seven pounds per acre grass.

“Cicer milkvetch may take three to four years to become established, so the alfalfa is recommended to provide a legume during the first two to three years,” Klein noted.

In the spring of 2005, 10 producers throughout Saskatchewan seeded demonstration fields that included sainfoin and cicer milkvetch. These fields were monitored for establishment, and will be followed as the producers use them for grazing. Observations will be used for future recommendations.

For a list of where the demonstration fields are located, please contact Lorne Klein at (306) 848-2382.

For more information, contact:
Lorne Klein, Forage Development Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Phone: (306) 848-2382