Multispecies swards for cutting hay or silage systems

Harvesting multispecies swards for hay or silage requires careful management to maximise yield, maintain quality and preserve sward longevity. Learn about cutting techniques, timing and postharvest treatment to ensure optimal forage outcomes.

Maintain a cutting height of 6–8 cm (2.5–3 inches) to protect plant crowns (particularly legumes and herbs) and support regrowth.

Use sharp, well-maintained cutting tools to ensure clean cuts, reduce plant stress and improve productivity. Usually, rotary or disc mowers are used, with choice dependent on terrain and sward composition.

Follow the tips below to maintain maximum nutritional value of your sward:

•  Adjust cutting speed to suit sward density and moisture content; slower speeds may be necessary for dense, lush growth to ensure a cleaner cut, avoid blockages, reduce lodging and minimise damage to regrowth potential
• Cut late morning to early afternoon, once the dew has evaporated. This improves drying efficiency (important for hay) and helps retain higher sugar levels, boosting forage quality
• For maximum nutritional value, cut grasses at the early heading stage and legumes at 10% bloom

Avoid using machinery during wet conditions to prevent soil compaction, which hinders root development and reduces productivity.

Work with field contours to maintain long-term soil and sward health. Follow the natural slope of the land to reduce erosion risk, especially on hillsides.

Generally, allow four to six weeks between cuts, though this may vary with weather and species mix.

To capture peak nutritional content, cut:

• Grasses just before heading for best digestibility and regrowth. Ideally first cut in late spring
• Legumes at early bloom. Target 10% bloom stage for optimal protein and fibre
• Herbs, such as chicory and plantain, at early flowering to preserve palatability and support intake