Multi Species Leys Dairy Insight

Multi-species swards, often referred to as Herbal Leys, are diverse mixes of grass leys that contain three or more species of grasses, legumes and herbs. Herbal leys will improve soil health, boost biodiversity, and increase livestock performance through varied rooting depths and producing high-quality nutritional forage for dairy herds. They are becoming more popular as farmers look for ways to bolster production in drier conditions and capitalise on new farming schemes. Muliti-species swards are not a silver bullet, but they can help spread your risk. How much of your farm you put down to multi-species will depend on your goals.

This Dairy Insight outlines the key benefits of herbal leys and examines which species will best align with your farming system.