Nutritive variability in silaged grass-clover swards

Multi-species swards are increasingly recognised in temperate grasslands for their potential to enhance agricultural sustainability and resilience. By optimising forage yield and quality while reducing external nitrogen input, they contribute to more sustainable livestock systems. This study assessed the nutritive value of 13 first cut grass-clover (red and white clover) silage samples, collected from farms across Flanders in 2024. Samples were analysed for dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), crude ash (CA), sugar, and fibre content (NDF) using wet chemical methods. These parameters were used to estimate metabolizable protein (DVE), rumen degradable protein balance (OEB), energy content (VEM) and in vivo DM digestibility. Clover content (DM basis) and DM yield were also determined. Results revealed substantial variability: VEM ranged from 801 to 964, DVE from 51 to 79 g/kg, and OEB from 14 to 165 g/kg. Clover content spanned 2–54%, while DM yields ranged from 2 to 6 t DM/ha. No significant correlations were observed among the parameters. These findings highlight the broad variability in nutritive profiles, driven by factors such as species composition, sward maturity, and field management practices. The results emphasize the potential of multi-species swards to support sustainable livestock systems but highlight also room for improvement and the need for (individual) guidance.