The effect of short‐term grazing of red clover on ewes at mating

Four groups of ewes grazed swards of red clover (Trifolium pratense cv. Hungaropoly) for 28‐day periods ending 28, 14 or 0 (two groups) days before mating. One of the groups on red clover for the period immediately before mating continued on red clover during mating. At all other times before mating and for 7–8 weeks after mating commenced these ewes were grazed on a predominantly perennial ryegrass‐white clover sward. A fifth (control) group was on the ryegrass sward throughout. There was no apparent adverse effect of red clover on ovulation rate, conception rate or embryo mortality.