Effects of feeding red clover compared to ryegrass silage to growing cattle out-wintered on kale

Using forage brassicas provides farmers with an alternative to increase the amount of grazed forage in the diets and/or stocking numbers without the need for capital investment in housing. However, typically forage brassicas, such as kale (Brassica oleracea), have a low dry matter content and require the addition of a high-fibre source (as hay, straw or silage) to maintain rumen function. Feeding kale at high inclusion rates can reduce intakes due to the low dry matter content of the diet. Feeding ensiled red clover (Trifolium pratense) compared to ryegrass (Lolium perenne) has been shown to improve the performance of ruminants due to its high protein content and high voluntary intakes compared to ryegrass silages. An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of feeding red clover silage compared to ryegrass silage as the basal high-fibre source to growing beef steers grazing kale over the winter period. Overall, data showed there was no effect of feeding red clover silage compared to ryegrass silage on the performance of beef steers grazing kale.