Onobrychis viciifolia Sainfoin

Previous scientific name(s): Hedysarum onobrychis, Onobrychis sativa, Onobrychis viciaefolia.

Sainfoin is quickly gaining popularity in the U.S. and Canada as a non-bloat forage alternative to alfalfa. Extremely palatable and highly nutritious to all types of livestock and wildlife, with digestibility equal to alfalfa. Grow for high-protein hay, pasture or silage in either pure stands or as a component of grass mixtures. Also, use for habitat enhancement or in wildlife food plots. Excellent pollinator species and a superior honey plant to alfalfa. Description Introduced, perennial, nitrogen-fixing legume with stout, erect to nearly-erect, hollow, succulent stems, up to 4 ft. in height. Pink-striped flowers occur in conelike clusters on the end of long, upright stalks. Large, deep, branching taproot; also fine lateral roots. A compound, multi-foliate leaves. Large seeds in single-seeded pods. It is both drought-tolerant and winter-hardy. Neither invasive or weedy. Matures faster than alfalfa, providing early spring forage.Planting & Growing Tolerant of low phosphorus soils. Best in soils with pH ≥7. Plant ¼” – ¾” deep. About 22,000 seeds per lb (in the pod). Apply at 35 – 45 lbs/acre (pure stand, irrigated) or at ≥50% (by weight) in grass pasture mixes. Cut and bale at 10% bloom, similar to alfalfa. Species-specific rhizobia inoculant available upon request.

Documents:

Sainfoin Cut Sheet.pdf