Effect of post‐grazing height on the productivity, population and morphology of a herb and legume mix

Herb and legume mixes have been shown to increase animal performance compared with perennial ryegrass/white clover. The objective of this experiment was to determine the response of a herb and legume mix containing chicory ( Cichorium intybus ), plantain ( Plantago lanceolata ), red clover ( Trifolium pratense ) and white clover ( T. repens ) to either Hard (post‐grazing residual of 4 cm) or Lax (post‐grazing residual of 8 cm) grazing treatments using a 3–5 week grazing cycle with sheep over 2 years. The sward produced a greater dry matter yield under Hard than Lax grazing (11.6 vs 8.9 t DM/ha/year). However, Lax grazing maintained all four species in the sward, with a greater red clover contribution to the sward. Chicory had a greater taproot diameter and root water‐soluble carbohydrate concentration under Lax than Hard grazing. Overall, this study illustrates that the herb and legume mix is likely to be more persistent under Lax than Hard grazing.