Performance of mixtures of ryegrass cultivars and prairie grass with red clever cultivars under two grazing frequencies

Abstract Second‐year seasonal production of 4 mixtures of ‘Grasslands’ Pawera tetraploid red clover with Matua prairie grass, and Tama, Manawa, and Nui ryegrass was measured under 2 frequencies ofgrazing by sheep. Mixtures ofMatua with Hamua and Turoa red clovers were measured only under infrequent grazing. Shoot numbers of sown and ingress species were determined at the end of the second year. Second‐year yields averaged 16% higher than establishment‐year yields, with a maximum of 22000 kg DM/ha for infrequently grazed Nui‐Pawera. Red clover provided 60% of production, causing a later peak of production in the second year (November and December) than in the first year (October) when sown grasses were the main yield component. All sown grass tiller numbers were reduced to a low level by the end of the second year, but red clover shoot numbers were comparatively stable. Problems associated with red clover dominance, depletion of sown grass tiller numbers, and related reductions of winter production are considered together with various management options.