High-yielding, drought-resistant forage legume with natural anthelmintic properties. Historically grown widely in the Cotswolds. Based on Richard Smith’s (Daylesford Organic) experience reported via Agricology in Direct Driller Issue 5.
Performance vs Other Forages
| Metric | Sainfoin | Ryegrass |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh weight yield | 15 t/acre (37.5 t/ha) | 8–10 t/acre |
| Protein content | ~22% (first cut, juvenile) | 14–15% |
| Metabolisable Energy (ME) | 12 | 10 |
Drought Resilience
- Deep taproot penetrates far into subsoil — “you don’t really need rain as the root can penetrate so far”
- 2018 (driest year in 40 years): sainfoin “wasn’t really affected by the drought” while grass yields were severely down
- First cut still achieved 17% protein, ME 10.5–11 (down from 22% pre-cut)
- Second cut (July): 14% protein, ME 10–10.5
- Total yield in drought year: ~9–10 t/acre fresh weight first cut + ~8 t/acre second cut
- Best drought-resistant species alongside chicory and birdsfoot trefoil (see Herbal Leys — Putting Grass Back into Farming)
[Source: dd-issue-05, 2026-04-11]
Natural Anthelmintic Properties
- Condensed tannins in sainfoin act as a natural wormer for sheep and cattle
- Lambs grazing sainfoin gain up to 350 g liveweight daily — “rocket fuel for ruminant stomachs”
- Charles Hunter-Smart (Bradwell Grove): no ewes wormed for 2 years using sainfoin/birdsfoot trefoil in herbal leys
- Significant veterinary cost saving
[Source: dd-issue-05, 2026-04-11]
Establishment
- Soil: adapts best to well-drained soils with pH 7+ (limestone/chalk ideal)
- Sowing: mid-May into warm soil; drill at 1–1.5 inches deep
- Rolling: imperative — roll tightly to retain moisture and aid germination; roll again after overseeding
- Overseeding: oversow with native grasses (cocksfoot, timothy) to suppress weeds by creating ground cover
- First year: slow establishment; second year is when crop takes off
- Once established: smothers weeds; clean crop to grow
- Ley duration: 5–8 years for optimal production
Mowing
- Crown-grown plant — must not be mown too low (can kill plant)
- Fragile leaf — don’t leave too long to dry or handle with heavy machinery (knocks off leaf where goodness is)
- First cut: mid-June at mid-flower
- Second cut: September, or leave for seed harvest (late September–mid October; ~150 kg/acre good seed)
Pollinator Benefits
- Pink flowers highly beneficial to bees and other pollinators — great nectar crop
- Leave strips near beehives for insect forage
[Source: dd-issue-05, 2026-04-11]
Silage Production
- Forage wagon chops sainfoin; cleared ~100 acres/day
- Wilt 24 hours to ~70% dry matter
- Pit silage: line walls with plastic, roll tightly to exclude air
- Palatability and animal performance similar whether juvenile or mature crop is harvested
[Source: dd-issue-05, 2026-04-11]
Related Pages
- Herbal Leys — Putting Grass Back into Farming — Sainfoin as part of diverse herbal ley mixes
- Cover Crops — Sainfoin as long-term soil improvement
- Livestock Integration in No-Till Systems — Grazing sainfoin for livestock health
- Soil Carbon and Organic Matter — Deep rooting for subsoil carbon deposition