The study has been designed to examine the use of mixed legume swards which incorporate a mix of hardseeded legumes or hardseeded legumes sown with traditional legumes. Our aim over the lifetime of the study is to quantify the effect of mixed legume swards on livestock productivity and health as well as the balance between sown species and weeds.

Results from the initial establishment season have again confirmed the ability of hardseeded legumes to grow and set seed under adverse seasonal conditions.  The value of indeterminate pattern of growth in facilitating additional seed set was also shwon with biserrula where following late spring rain, an additional round of seed set resulted in a more than doubling of overall seed production.Bladder, with a slightly deeper root system, and gland clover which is early maturing also showed b etter capacity to produce seed in challenging condition s compared to subterranean clover.  With production of a seed bank critical for pasture performance  in subsequent years, the performance of hardsseded legumes was very encouraging.