The fertility of heifers consuming red clover silage

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Abstract
The fertility of forty‐two heifers offered either red clover silage or grass silage prior to and during the period of insemination was compared. Pregnancy rate to first service was significantly higher (P < 0·25) on red clover silage at 76% compared with 43% on grass silage. Pregnancy rates from a mating period covering three oestrus cycles were similar on the two silage diets. The ratio of services to pregnancies was lower on red clover silage (1·2) than on grass silage (2·2). In a subsidiary trial with twenty‐three heifers, pregnancy rate to first service on red clover silage was 78%.There was no evidence to indicate that herd fertility is depressed by red clover silage.