Red clover has proven to be an important forage legume, particularly in the late summer and autumn, when soil moisture levels, temperature and pests can limittraditional ryegrass/white clover pasture growth. Red clover provides significantly higher legume production levels over the summer months compared to white clover, (two to three times) due to its ability to grow under drier soil conditions. Red clovers therefore provide a very effective pasture component for finishing stock over summer. One of the major break throughs in breeding red clover is a reduction in formononetin levels (an oestrogen compound), which can reduce reproductive performance in sheep. Grasslands Sensation formononetin levels are around 60% of Pawera.

• A diploid early flowering red clover
• Bred for persistence under close grazing
• High yielding cultivar with excellent spring production
• High levels of natural reseeding
• Reduced levels of formononetin (oestrogen) 

Red clover has significantly better tolerance to clover root weevil (CRW) than white clover. Sensation red clover was selected as a productive, upright growing cultivar, which gave improved tolerance to close grazing. Some Swiss material was included in the breeding to give better cold tolerance to winter chilling and to improve the productivity of Sensation in the spring.