The ryegrass predominates from late winter throughout the spring. Then, small grain ryegrass pastures can be grazed heavily in November and early December, allowing ryegrass planted alone to develop good growth before grazing begins. The need to improve forage quality and reduce nitrogen costs makes the winter annual legume-grass mixtures ideal for many situations. The most common annual clovers that best fit these mixtures are crimson, arrowleaf, berseem, subterranean, and ball. Red clover, a biennial, is increasing in popularity as a legume to grow with ryegrass and ryegrass-small grain mixtures.
Red clover grows well alone or mixed with other clovers such as crimson.
Red clover grows well throughout the cool season and will extend spring production since it grows later into the spring than other annual clovers except Meechee arrowleaf. Approximately 6 to 8 pounds of red and 2 pounds of white per acre make a good mixture. The red gives additional spring growth and the white will remain as a perennial in the permanent pasture where light and moisture are adequate. Land Selection One consideration for winter grazing is the land available for temporary winter pasture. Winter grazing areas should have soils that hold livestock up well without bogging during wet weather.