A Retrospective Analysis of White Clover (Trifolium repens L.) Content Fluctuation in Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) Swards under 4 Years of Intensive Rotational Dairy Grazing

The objective of this study was to examine fluctuations in white clover (Trifolium repens L.) content perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne swards within a high nitrogen (250 kg N/ha) input grazing dairy system. data came from larger, overall system experiment which all management and growing condition variables were categorised each year for the 40 paddocks that contained ryegrass-white swards, over four years. Within study, eight cultivars examined, sown individually with two 50:50 mix ‘Chieftain’ ‘Crusader’. To determine associations meteorological patterns rate/direction change, separate generalised linear models used analyse individual or variable. Paddocks contents associated lower pre- post-grazing sward heights, pasture cover winter period shorter over-winter period. Perennial height, pre-grazing mass yield removed, retained more their swards. Soil fertility remained key factor affected persistence influencing degree responses treatments, particularly soil phosphorus (P) levels. Beyond this, higher rates decline received rainfall, had moisture deficits radiation into base sward, around time grazing.