Grazing for Profit and Biodiversity: Multi-Species Swards

This factsheet looks at the wide range of benefits multi-species swards can bring for farm profitability and biodiversity including improved stock and pasture productivity on less inputs, resilience during drought conditions and a greater diversity and abundance of food sources and habitats for insects, birds and small mammals.

Maintaining persistency of certain legumes and herb species can, however, be a challenge with a change in grazing strategy often required. In this factsheet we explore the benefits and challenges of multi-species swards and hear from Emily Grant about her experiences of managing multi-species swards at Coldrochie farm.