Lucerne Advisor Series: When to cut and how to feed lucerne for value
August 26, 2025 Australia
Cut lucerne too early and you lose yield. Cut too late and feed quality drops. Harvesting lucerne is a balancing act — and it’s one of the biggest decisions that affects animal performance, stand persistence, and long-term productivity.
Here’s how to make the most of your first cut and feed.
When to cut: hay vs silage
The best time to cut depends on your end use:
Tip: Avoid cutting in late autumn. Lucerne needs to build reserves before winter — let it reach full flower once per year (usually final cut) to support persistence.
Storing lucerne right
Lucerne hay and silage are both high-value feeds – but need to be handled properly.
Hay storage tips:
- Target <12% moisture at baling
- Bale density should be firm (300kg/m³+ for big squares)
- Store undercover or under high-grade hay caps
- Stack on pallets or tyres to avoid bottom layer spoilage
Silage tips:
- Wilt to 35–40% DM before ensiling
- Chop length: 1.5–3cm for better packing
- Compact fast and seal tight — oxygen is your biggest risk
Feeding lucerne to livestock
Lucerne is high in protein, calcium and energy — but like any high-quality feed, it needs to be balanced in the ration.
Risks if overfed (especially to cattle):
- Bloat
- Nitrate poisoning
- Red gut (in sheep)
Best practice:
- Introduce slowly, especially to hungry stock
- Always provide roughage and fibre
- Use licks or buffers in high-lucerne diets
Lucerne is best fed:
- As part of a mixed ration or pasture blend
- With hay or cereal straw to slow digestion and improve rumen function
Cutting frequency vs persistence
It’s tempting to chase cuts — but cutting too often reduces stand longevity.
Minimum regrowth period:
Let basal shoots grow to 2-3cm before recutting or grazing.
- Cutting at 10% flower improves persistence
- Allow one full-flower cut per year to replenish root reserves
- Avoid short intervals (<28 days) unless conditions are ideal
For irrigated or high-yield systems, strong regrowth varieties like Q31® give you more flexibility without sacrificing stand life.
Product spotlight
- Q31® lucerne: Sets the benchmark for hay quality in the Australian market. Q31® is a high-quality option with flexible cutting times, excellent leaf retention and large leaf size.
- L56® lucerne: A semi-winter-dormant option that balances yield, tiller density and long-term persistence for producers combining hay with grazing.
Both come standard with Goldstrike XLR8® for improved emergence and crown development.
Conclusion
Whether you’re chasing premium hay or silage, cutting lucerne right sets you up for quality feed and a longer-lasting stand.
Watch your timing, let your stand recover, and feed smart — lucerne has plenty to give, if you manage it well.
Cut well. Feed better. Plan ahead.
You’ve made the cut — now it’s about recovery, regrowth and planning for the next phase. These articles can help:
- Why tiller density matters for lucerne persistence
- How treated lucerne seed improves your stand
- Lucerne in rotation – how to know when it’s time
Need a variety that suits your cutting or grazing rotation?
Chat with the AlfaGen team about options like Q31® and L56®.