{Tool} Productive grassland guide: Herb-rich swards. [Handleiding Productief - Kruidenrijk Grasland.] Creator(s): Janssen, Pedro; Bruinenberg, M.; van Eekeren, Nick; Hoekstra, Nyncke; Pijlman, J.; van Schie, Ton; Wagenaar, J.P. and de Wit, Jan. Issuing Organisation(s): LBI - Louis Bolk Institute. (2024)
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Summary
With this guide, we provide background information for dairy farmers considering the establishment of productive herb-rich grassland and concrete guidance for those who are actually starting cultivation. It is primarily focused on productive herb-rich grassland. However, to highlight potential differences , comparisons will regularly be made with permanent grassland and with extensive herb-rich grassland (Chapter 2). Growing productive herb-rich grassland is truly different from growing regular grassland. It requires greater expertise from the dairy farmer to make the cultivation a success. This guide aims to assist in this endeavor.
Summary translation
Met deze handleiding geven we achtergrondinformatie voor melkveehouders die nadenken over het inzaaien van productief kruidenrijk grasland en concrete handvatten voor degenen die daadwerkelijk met de teelt starten. Het is voornamelijk gericht op productief kruidenrijk grasland. Maar om mogelijke verschillen te duiden zal regelmatig de vergelijking gemaakt worden met blijvend grasland en met extensief kruidenrijk grasland (zie hoofdstuk 2). Het telen van productief kruidenrijk grasland is echt iets anders dan het telen van regulier grasland. Het vraagt om meer vakmanschap van de melkveehouder om het telen tot een succes te brengen. Deze handleiding hoopt hierbij te helpen.
| EPrint Type: | Practice tool |
|---|---|
| Teaser: | Introduction to herb-rich grassland for dairy farmers with guidance, benefits and practical tips. |
| What problem does the tool address?: | Productive herb-rich grassland is a mixture of grasses, clovers, and herbs that, under favorable conditions, can produce a high yield of good quality with low fertilizer inputs. In the Dutch dairy farming sector, this is relatively new. |
| What solution does the tool offer?: | It has only become common practice in recent years to sow fields with productive herb-rich grassland. However, there has been years of experience with mixtures of grasses and clover, particularly in organic dairy farming. Productive herb-rich grassland has long been common in countries such as New Zealand, where it is referred to as “multispecies grassland” or “multispecies swards.” There are several reasons why these mixtures have also become more popular in the Netherlands in recent years: • The potential health benefits of herbs. • Drought tolerance, which is considered more important following several dry years. • Premiums from dairy processors for biodiversity and from the EU. |
| Country: | Netherlands |
| Type of Practice Tool: | Leaflets & guidelines |
| Keywords: | forage, cattle, feed composition, animal health, nutrient intake, climate change adaptation, drought resistance, biodiversity, grassland management |
| Agrovoc keywords: | Language Value URI English forage http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_36108 English cattle http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_1391 English feed composition http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_10770 English nutrient intake http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_34064 English climate change adaptation http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_1374567058134 English drought resistance http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_2392 English biodiversity http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_33949 English grassland management http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_3364 |
| Subjects: | Animal husbandry > Production systems > Dairy cattle Crop husbandry > Production systems > Pasture and forage crops Animal husbandry > Production systems > Beef cattle Animal husbandry > Health and welfare Environmental aspects > Biodiversity and ecosystem services |
| Research affiliation: | Netherlands > Louis Bolk Institute European Union > Horizon Europe > OrganicClimateNET > selected tools European Union > Organic Farm Knowledge |
| Horizon Europe or H2020 Grant Agreement Number: | 101136880 |
| Related Links: | https://organic-farmknowledge.org/tool/57696, https://organicclimatenet.eu/, https://organic-farmknowledge.org/tool/57226, https://organic-farmknowledge.org/tool/44457, https://organic-farmknowledge.org/tool/55491, https://organic-farmknowledge.org/tool/30994 |
| Project ID: | OFK |
| Deposited By: | Rüger, Madelaine Lea |
| ID Code: | 57696 |
| Deposited On: | 27 May 2026 07:06 |
| Last Modified: | 27 May 2026 07:06 |
| Document Language: | Dutch/Nederlands |
| Status: | Published |
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