Attribute
NEW ZEALAND'S NEW GENERATION OF CLOVER.
- Leaf Size Medium-Large
- Pasture Life Perennial
- Grazing Seasons Autumn, Spring, Summer, Winter
- New generation medium to large-leaved white clover
- Very high total productivity
- Maintains high productivity under a wide range of grazing management practices
- Ideal for sheep and beef pastures, finishing pastures, dairy and dairy support pastures
Attribute has shown a high level of performance in dryland sheep pastures under both set stocking and rotational grazing in Canterbury, while being just as successful in the intensive grass growing areas of rotationally grazed cattle pastures in the upper North Island. Attribute is the perfect white clover base for a clover mix.
Discover how Attrubute can drive your farm's production on The Al & Juddy Show podcast, or check out more Seed Dating episodes here.
How it works
Attribute is a new medium to large-leaved white clover, representing the next step in genetic improvement within New Zealand’s most widely used clover category. It was developed from 12 elite breeding lines, specifically chosen for their persistence in year three of a multi-site breeder trial series. Importantly, these 12 lines were selected from a pool of 104 diverse elite entries drawn from multiple breeding programmes. The timing of Attribute’s development, coinciding with the merging of several breeding programmes, means its parentage represents a unique and highly valuable generation.
Where Attribute fits
Attribute is the perfect white clover for basing a clover mixture around. Attribute and Emblem (medium-small leaved) white clover mixes are suitable for pastures that could be summer dry and/or spend significant time set stocked. Attribute and Brace (large-leaved white clover) mixes are suitable where fertile productive pastures are growing a lot of drymatter and the clover needs to be able to compete with aggressive grass growth.
Performance Data
Compared with Tribute medium–large leaved white clover, Attribute exhibits a similar leaf size, occasionally appearing slightly larger. Due to the inherent plasticity of white clovers, this variation is difficult to distinguish, and Attribute reflects this flexibility well. It is a dense type with strong depth in leaf production. While white clovers with their horizontal leaves can often appear similar in performance, it is the additional layering of leaves within the canopy that gives Attribute its consistent yield and reliable performance under a wide range of grazing conditions.
Evaluating the performance of modern white clover genetics in a ryegrass + white clover mixed sward
In spring 2021, Agricom established a replicated plot trial to evaluate different white clover cultivars which were all sown with Three60 AR37 perennial ryegrass. The grass cultivar and sowing rate were kept consistent across the swards, enabling a comparison of the white clover cultivars based on both the quantity and quality of pasture produced.
The trial also included control plots for both grass treatments (without clover) and an additional treatment of Three60 AR37 with Relish red clover, allowing for a comparison of red clover’s performance in this system relative to white clover.
Measuring the yield contribution of modern white clover genetics in a mixed pasture under nitrogen limited conditions
Fertiliser was applied to this trial at a rate of 190 kg N/ha/year, using a ‘complex’ product to ensure phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and sulfur (S) are non-limiting. The fertiliser is distributed across four applications of 46 kg N/ha throughout the calendar year.
Yield is measured 10 times per year using a forage harvester, which cuts the forage to a height of 4–6 cm. Fresh weight is recorded for each plot, and samples are taken for drying to calculate the drymatter percentage. These measurements are used to determine the drymatter production for each treatment in the trial.
Figure 3 presents the interim cumulative yield, covering the period from sowing in spring 2021 to spring 2024.
3 tonnes/ha annual production increase using modern white clover genetics relative to commodity clovers
Figure 4 presents 12 months of yield data in the trial. With the same amount of nitrogen applied, Three60 + Attribute produced an additional 2413 kg DM/ha compared to Three60 + Huia highlighting the significant annual production gains achievable with modern white clover genetics.
Providing farm system solutions to maintain production under synthetic nitrogen limitations
In perennial ryegrass pastures featuring new generation, high density grasses like Three60, modern white clover cultivars have demonstrated the ability to produce over 15 tonnes of drymatter per hectare per year under a cut and carry system, with just 190 kg N/ha/year applied. Cultivars such as Attribute and Brace offer farmers an effective tool to maintain or even improve pasture productivity while complying with regulations on synthetic nitrogen application.
To view full trial results click here.
Suggested Mixes
Dairy pasture
Three60 is perfect for dairy production due to its outstanding summer, autumn and winter growth, quality and persistence.
| Rate (kg/ha) | |
|---|---|
| Three60 AR37 perennial ryegrass | 20 |
| Brace white clover | 3 |
| Attribute white clover | 2 |
| TOTAL | 25 |
Tetraploid mixed pasture
Align’s excellent quality makes it the ideal pasture for finishing lambs and cattle over the summer and autumn periods. Align also has excellent tiller density for increased persistency under close rotational grazing.
| Rate (kg/ha) | |
|---|---|
| Align AR37 or AR1* tetraploid perennial ryegrass | 24 |
| Attribute white clover | 4 |
| Relish red clover | 4 |
| Ecotain® environmental plantain | 1 |
| Choice chicory | 2 |
| TOTAL | 35 |
Dryland sheep and beef
Reason has excellent density for periods of set stocking and winter grazing. It also has good pasture quality through summer into autumn for mating.
| Rate (kg/ha) | |
|---|---|
| Reason AR37 perennial ryegrass | 18 |
| Attribute white clover | 3 |
| Emblem white clover | 2 |
| Relish red clover | 4 |
| Ecotain® environmental plantain | 1 |
| Choice chicory | 2 |
| TOTAL | 30 |