Lucerne Advisor Series: When to cut and how to feed lucerne for value

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®.