Does Clover Make Cows Sick?

Sweet clover is a legume so it can cause bloat. Most of the time in this region, sweet clover is a part of a diversity of grasses, sedges, legumes and forbs on rangeland or pasture and doesn't result in bloat. As ruminants, cattle can adapt to grazing forage with high bloat potential over a period of several days.

Is clover bad for cattle?

Mouldy sweet clover poisoning in cattle is caused by the ingestion of sweet clover hay or ensilage containing dicoumarol. Poisoning is characterized by extensive hemorrhages into tissues throughout the body and severe blood loss after injury, surgery or parturition. ... All ages of cattle are susceptible.

Does clover kill cows?

CLOVER KILLS: Weather has created an abundance of clover in Missouri pastures. However, too much is causing problems for beef cattle producers. Frothy bloat killed some cattle in the state. ... Clover helps dilute the toxin intake and provides valuable nitrogen for the grass when it is about 25% to 30% of the stand.

James H. Sterling

James H. Sterling

Environmental Science & Climate Journalist

James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.