Sainfoin is highly palatable to sheep and cattle. It is drought tolerant. Sainfoin has deep, penetrating roots, allowing it to draw moisture from a great depth. Being leguminous (able to fix N) it can leave huge quantities of N in the soil, making it ideal for the next crop in the rotation. Therefore, it also needs no nitrogen fertiliser.
Establishment
Sainfoin should be drilled to 2 cm and rolled afterwards to increase soil moisture contact with the seed. Sainfoin may be included in seed mixtures in the same way that clovers are grown with grasses. A typical inclusion rate would be 12 kg/ha.
Utilization
Sainfoin provides bloat-free forage for ruminants which is a real advantage over other legumes such as clovers and lucerne which can cause bloat. Only a relatively small quantity of sainfoin in the diet is required to prevent bloat. Sainfoin is palatable to horses, sheep, cattle, goats and all commonly farmed animals.