Ellice Hahne (FCG Midwest)

The benefits of herbal leys for the soil and their resistance to drought is usually what is focused on when deciding whether or not to establish them (that, and potential grant payments under SFI). But in addition to their varied root structure improving soil structure and helping them to thrive in more varied weather conditions than a pure grass ley, they also offer nutritional benefits to the livestock grazing them.

Herbal leys are a mix of grasses, legumes and herbs – let’s see what each of these have to offer.

Grasses provide the metabolisable energy (ME) in the mix and often provide the bulk of a herbal ley. They also provide structural fibre and digestibility.

Herbs (e.g., chicory, plantain, sheep’s parsley) mine the minerals in the soil and make them available to the livestock grazing them, reducing the risk of deficiencies and the need to buy minerals. While herbs’ ME and CP levels aren’t as high as grasses and legumes, they have their place in the mix as they contribute to rumen health, fibre diversity, and palatability of the mix.

Some herbs and legumes (e.g., chicory, sainfoin, birdsfoot trefoil) are also high in tannins, which will provide anthelmintic qualities and can help reduce worm burden.

The management of herbal leys is essential to make the most of their benefits. Rotational grazing is preferred to mob grazing if wanting to maintain high ME, as it will keep the plants in a leafy, more digestible state. Mob grazing can allow plants to mature too far and therefore lower feed quality.

If you would like to know more about the benefits of herbal leys, please contact Ellice at ellicehahne@fcgagric.com or your local FCG Office.