PRODUCTIVITY OF ALFALFA, SAINFOIN, AND CICER MILKVETCH ON SUBIRRIGATED LAND WHEN GRAZED BY SHEEP

Rambler alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), Eski sainfoin (Onobrychis viciaefolia Scop.) and cicer milkvetch (Astragalus cicer L.), alone and in mixture with Nordan crested wheatgrass (Agropyron desertorum (Fisch.) Schult.), were grazed by sheep over a 5-yr period. The replicates, or paddocks, were grazed in succession and the productivity, palatability, and persistence of the legumes was determined. When grown alone, sainfoin and alfalfa produced similar amounts of dry matter and both outyielded cicer milkvetch. There were no apparent differences in palatability of the legumes although the sheep were observed to graze sainfoin first, then alfalfa, and finally cicer milkvetch. Because alfalfa, sainfoin, and cicer milkvetch differ from one another in growth pattern, variations in grazing management of the three legumes may be necessary.