A Favorite for All Critters

bloat free
nitrogen building soil enhancer
no loss of digestible protein
high sugar content
weevil and aphid resistant
no fertilizer needed if planted in a pure stand
cheap weed control
highest legume palatability
good pollen production
#1 honey producer

Bees

Taken from "Sainfoin Saga: A New Ride for this Ancient Legume", by Skylar Christensen, Bee Culture Magazine, August 2015

While the sainfoin never grew tall enough during its first year to make a harvestable crop, it did flower from mid-June to August of that year. My bees seemed to thrive during that time and by September each colony had fully established their two deep brood chambers, and each had filled a deep super. One colony had even filled two deep supers with the lightest colored honey I’d ever seen. That honey would later go on to tie for first place at my local bee club’s annual honey tasting contest. For my first year I was quite pleased. Sainfoin’s reputation as a superior honey plant had been proven.

Now in its second year, my bee-pastures have far exceeded my expectations. As of writing this article, the sainfoin is in full-bloom and has grown between three and four feet tall in a nearly weed-free stand. It began flowering the first week of May and should be reaching its peak mid to late June, tapering down until it’s harvested in July. The fields have received no irrigation (although the above-average rainfall this Spring helped) and have not been treated with herbicides, pesticides or fertilizer. It seems as far as sustainability and input-reduction are concerned, sainfoin fits the bill quite nicely in these arid Rocky Mountains.
My bee colonies have doubled in number since last year and continue to thrive. Not only do the sainfoin fields attract every honey bee within a two mile radius, but native bees and other pollinators are commonly seen foraging the pink blossoms. Deer are also frequent visitors; crossing over the neighboring alfalfa fields to help themselves to my sainfoin. Game birds such as turkey and pheasants have become regular residents. I may have found another use for sainfoin – wildlife food plots.

Blooms average of 2 weeks earlier than alfalfa

Economics of Sainfoin 2013 Wildbee International:

For the beekeeper, the minimum average honey harvested from pasture fields of Sainfoin is 120 lbs per hive with 2 hives per acre. Sainfoin, left for seed, has been said to produce 200-250lbs per hive with 2 hives per acre.

Sainfoin, cover crop (Onobrychis viciifolia) Bee Happy Plants 2018:

(Sainfoin) Produces Nectar and Pollen for Honeybees and Bumblebees. This nectar is secreted exceptionally freely and is considered one of the highest yielding honey plants. This is one of the few honeys which is purely monofloral in the British Isles. The flowers of sainfoin attract huge numbers of insects. According to studies, sainfoin can attract ten times more bees than white clover. There are many beekeepers who consider sainfoin honey to be superior to that from any other source. When sainfoin flowers, it is so appealing to honeybees that they will often ignore all other nectar sources to forage on it. Pollen is also gathered, it being one of the oiliest pollens available. Sainfoin flowering in September will be making a big contribution towards bees winter reserves.

Horses

Taken from TERRI ADAMS, The Prairie Star
Wednesday, October 21, 2009 12:13 PM MDT

Jeff Russell and Matthew Landis have been growing sainfoin on their newly purchased Idaho ranch for three years.

They sit at 6,000 feet elevation and with that comes a shortened growing season. Originally they planted it to “amend the soil and help with some of the compaction in the areas that had been heavily farmed,” Russell said. They also wanted to provide some upland bird habitat.

“We weren't sure what to expect,” Russell admitted. Now, just three seasons later he loves sainfoin.

“It took well and out-competes the weeds. We have to put very little water on it and haven't fertilized it at all and it's growing like crazy,” he said.

Because it costs so little to produce, they are able to sell it for less than alfalfa hay and still make a profit. “Even with the cost of shipping, we can still sell it for less a ton than alfalfa,” Russell said. That lower price has attracted the attention of horse owners in Idaho and Montana.

“The owners say their horses love it,” Russell said. “Just five minutes ago we sent out a third load to a horse facility that has already purchased two truck loads and turned four other ranchers on to sainfoin.”

Bird Habitat and Reclaimation

Deer/Elk feed plots

As Sainfoin is a favorite of most wild animals, folks are developing feed plots for wildlife.

"One cautionary note is that sainfoin is very palatable to all grazing animals, not just livestock. Deer, elk, pronghorns, and bighorn sheep all are attracted to sainfoin. This can make for great wildlife viewing, but wildlife use of sainfoin sometimes exceeds tolerable levels where large numbers of grazing wildlife congregate." by Jeff Mosley Extension Range Management Specialist, Montana State University