It competes remarkably well with bluegrass under proper management. Of the perennial forage legumes, birdsfoot trefoil is the most tolerant to the broad range of soils found in the northern region and is the only one that will survive in a mixture with Kentucky bluegrass on muck soil. It is also the most tolerant to wet springs, dry hot summers and cold winters.
Trefoil is palatable, nutritious, high in protein and very digestible to cattle, sheep and horses.
Even after the plants start going to seed, forage quality and protein content remain high much longer than other pasture species. Also, trefoil is low in the estrogens that cause breeding problems, and apparently does not cause bloat in cattle or sheep. Despite all of the above advantages, very little birdsfoot trefoil is grown in Indiana, primarily because of the difficulty in establishing and maintaining a good stand. The purpose of this publication is to provide management information for establishing, growing and utilizing birdsfoot trefoil in the northern half of Indiana. Included are discussions on its characteristics and adaptation, keys to successful establishment and suggestions for maintaining productive stands.