Herb-rich grassland is increasingly popular with dairy farmers. A diverse piece of grassland with herbs that are tasty and give enough yield are very suitable in different weather conditions. In a changing climate this might be a very suitable option for the future.
In addition, there will also be more diversity in the grassland, which is good for soil life. Herb-rich grassland was a taboo among dairy farmers, but this seems to be changing. Experimenting with different mixtures leads to better results in terms of taste, production and quality.
Increasingly interested
Roughage tour participant Bert Wissels has a parcel of herb-rich grassland. "You read and hear a lot of positive stories about it. The cows like to eat it and it should be able to withstand drought better. That's why I wanted to try it on my farm. Last spring we sowed a plot with a herb-rich mixture. The plot is not fertilized and mowed once for hay. We now feed the hay to the calves and they like to eat it."
Wissels thinks it is still too early to draw conclusions after 1 season. "The yield of the herb-rich grassland is disappointing. But the plot where the herb mixture was sown is also not my best soil. The plot was sown in the spring, we prefer to do that in the autumn. weed development is underway."
Wissels does not see the herb-rich grassland as a replacement for highly productive grazing land, but as an option for the less productive areas, for example along a forest edge. "On those pieces it is not at the expense of production and it is a relatively easy way to meet the wishes of nature lovers."
Worth repeating
Weather permitting, Wissels wants to sow another 1,5 hectares of herb-rich grassland this fall to gain some more experience. The other roughage tour participants are also interested in herbaceous grassland. Only the more intensive dairy farmers find it less suitable for sowing.
This trend can also be seen throughout the Netherlands. A survey by LTO Nederland in the spring of 2021 shows that only 5% who have started with herb-rich grassland will stop again. 57% of the dairy farmers who have started would like to overseed more plots with herb-rich mixtures.
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