Red clover is a tap rooted, short-lived (2 – 5 year) perennial legume with high feed value.
It has good summer growth and some 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 quick rotations its persistence is reduced. Summer moisture is required for best results.
Red clover is commonly sown as a component of a permanent pasture, to boost late spring and summer growth and feed quality. It is often used as a specialist stand for hay or silage.
Red clovers contain phytoestrogens 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). Phytoestrogen levels vary between red clover varieties.