5BarX

Reading about many of the alternative legumes, they have a higher % of hard seeds than the popular and improved kinds that produce a stand that pleases farmers. Breeding programs select against hard seed, so I would guess that this method would select for hard seed.

Alsike clover is more upright in growth habit than Dutch White and will/can compete better with grasses.

We've seeded medium red clover this way and it has worked quite well here. Letting moderately established stands go to seed at least once per year before grazing it off again helps in distributing seed to other parts of the pasture.

We've had those Chia-pet looking cow pies here too, Grassfarmer. It's amazing how much seed does pass through that digestive track. Then again, it always amazes me how much corn seed you see in piles behind cattle that are fed corn, or even the ones that are grazed through a field that has been picked instead of chopped.

One way we seed pastures is by feeding round bales on them, especially late first cutting hay. Does a good job of getting OM onto our heavy clay soils plus lots of seed. We don't much care if milkweed or any other weeds are seeded in. Seems like the cattle eat all that stuff after germination anyway, especially milkweed. They down the bedstraw pretty well too. The only thing that they don't seem to really graze well is Japanese barberry. That's something I will hit with a little salt. I cut the plant off and dump a pound of trace mineral salt on it (+/-). It leaves a dead spot, but the cattle lick there quite a bit and eventually something moves in to claim the spot, but usually not the barberry.

Did my "frost seeding" the last couple of days, finished today. I put 500 lbs of clover seed on about 75 acres, My seeder won't go below about 6-8 lbs per acre and do an even job. I realize it is late to be seeding, but I hope spring rains put the seed into the ground and sprout it. If it doesn't germinate this year, it's there for next. I mixed 200 lbs of alsike and 300 lbs of medium red clover together for this seeding.

Charles
Pragmatic Cowman

The clover should start showing up after you graze it the first time. I have had trouble with medium red clover staying for than couple of years. The alsike persists for years in my area. Just remember to let it go to seed occaisionaly to replenish the seed bank for desireable species. Alsike in not recommended for horses as it could cause lamenitis(sp). I frost seeded orchard grass/ryegrass/festolium mix on 5 acres that I abused bad last fall. It was a win/win situation all around I might get a good response from it but the wife is happy that the left over seed is out of her basement.

Keep us post on how you make out.