Birdsfoot Trefoil Grazing

The effect of grazing birdsfoot trefoil pastures on worm populations in weaned lambs and kids

• All about this study – these grazing trials were part of a collaborative project with the Univ. of Rhode Island, Univ. of Wisconsin – Madison, Virginia Tech and West Virginia Univ
• Guidelines for establishing birdsfoot trefoil (BFT) pastures that are at least 25% BFT
• Birdsfoot trefoil case studies
  1. BFT establishment/grazing trial with weaned lambs in Cortland County, NY – a good trial to start with as it explains our methods in depth. BFT was planted on an acidic, low fertility soil with no additional soil amendments. Land prepared with horses and mules and BFT seeded with a millet nurse crop. Compared performance of “grass-fed” dairy lambs and yearlings rotated thru BFT pasture or unimproved grass pasture in same field.
  2. BFT establishment/grazing trial with weaned kids in Penebscot County, ME  Initial acidic soil received lime and organic fertilizer. BFT planted with oat nurse crop. Performance of  dairy kids compared either rotating on BFT pasture or woods regrowth, both  with minimal grain.
  3. BFT establishment/grazing trial with weaned kids in Clinton County, NY BFT planted alone on a very fertile field. Grazing trial compared dairy/kiko kids supplemented with 1/2 to 1 lb. grain each rotating on BFT pasture or grass/legume pasture.
  4. BFT establishment/grazing trial with weaned lambs in Colombia County, NY BFT planted alone on a relatively fertile field with some additional organic fertilizing. Weaned dorset/icelandic “grass-fed” lambs compared rotated on BFT or a highly productive pasture of cool season grasses, clover and alfalfa.
  5. BFT establishment/grazing trial with weaned kids in Greene County NY Field prepped with cover crops, annual pastures and brassicas beforehand and organic fertilizers applied.  BFT planted with an oat nurse crop. Performance of KikoX kids compared rotating thru BFT pasture or initially on grass/legume pasture and later switched to annual pasture regrowth. The effects of COWP dosing was compared on half of the kids not grazing BFT.
  6. BFT establishment/grazing trial with weaned lambs in Oneida County, NY BFT planted alone on organically fertilized field. Compared performance of  lambs continuously grazing BFT pastures or somewhat rotated on grass/legume pasture, both receiving minimal grain.
  7. BFT establishment/grazing trial with weaned lambs in St. Lawrence County, NY Compared inorganic and organic fertilizers. BFT planted with timothy seed. Compared performance of “grass-fed” dorsetX lambs rotated on BFT or grass/legume pastures with that of lambs on free choice 2nd cut hay and 1 lb. grain/head.  Combined with a study on the effects of copper oxide wire particles given 2 weeks pre-weaning.