This is an important economic factor when buying fertilizer. Legumes contain about twice the protein level of grasses. Including them in a pasture will increase the nutrient value of the pasture. Legumes enhance the acceptability, digestibility, and palatability of the pasture. This generally means better pasture utilization and healthier animals.
White clover is a shallow-rooted perennial that makes little growth during hot dry summer weather.
It has a prostrate type of growth that is well suited to permanent pastures and is usually included in pasture mixes. Ladino is a larger variety of the white clover and is recommended over the small white clover for horse pastures because of its greater production. Red clover is the most widely grown of the true clovers and is frequently included in pasture mixes for horses where tall fescue or orchardgrass is being seeded. Red clover is more tolerant of poorer drained soils and lower pH and is easier to establish than many other legumes. However, it also needs to be reseeded more often than some legumes because it is a plant that lasts about two years.