However, unlike red clover, its flowers are smaller and pink and its leaves have no watermark or white inverted V on the leaves. When fresh, clover is high inprotein, calcium, and other minerals, and it makes an excellent addition to a horses diet. When horses are being fed on excessive clover, there will certainly be health problems. Liver cirrhosis and/or scarring generally follows several months of plant consumption. Mow pastures until brown spots are no longer present on the leaves. Clovers energy, proteinand fiber content make it a good feed source for horses. my property used to be pasture so i have some interesting stuff in my yard. -Keep the area free of weeds during the growing season. $15.00. Chronic or nervous clinical signs and liver disease including biliary fibrosis and epithelial proliferation may occur. If you find this type of clover on your land, you should seek advice from an agricultural specialist to find out how to eliminate it. Timothy is easy to establish and cures easily. White clover in its lush stage of growth could contain 22-25% crude protein on a dry matter basis. 9 Types of Hay Horses Eat - Helpful Horse Hints Hay Management for Horses with Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) and In the presence of ultraviolet light from the sun, these then react in areas of non-pigmented skind and the horse's skin sunburns. Please do your research before feeding a horse anything that isn't on this list. It is uncommon for horses to have a kidney problem; however, those that do might have difficulty excreting the higher levels of nitrogen as found in alfalfa hay. Long-term exposure to moldy clover may have adverse consequences. Well, that is an exaggeration if the horse is eating fresh clover in a moderate amount. It becomes dangerous or toxic when infected with fungus. This is a very rough average, and horses may require more or less . EquiMed and Horse Health Matters are registered trademarks of EquiMed, LLC. NSC = Nonstructural Carbohydrates. Photosensitization causes the skin of the horse to become extremely sensitive to UV light, causing sunburn to happen with only small amounts of sunlight. Clover hay is simply hay that is made from clover leaves and stems. It is difficult to plant because of its large, light, fluffy seed which causes difficulties with many seeders. Quick Navigation hide 1 Types of clover Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Forageplus uses cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Use an herbicide if you want to remove clover from your pasture or hay field. If you dont have the choice to use the rotational, cell method of grazing and the grazing is always short-cropped then be aware that some grass seed mixes are more suitable for short grazing than others. Staying up-to-date on the latest developments in horse care and equine health is now a habit, and she enjoys sharing a wealth of information with horse owners everywhere. You will find a range of different grasses and plants in your fields, and not all of them are good. This is caused by a mold that grows on clover in cool wet conditions and often occurs in the fall. These molds can contain estrogenic properties which can interfere with the reproductive cycles of mares. Horse Hay: Guide to Feeding A Horse - EquineSpot.com It can be treated by fencing out the horse from the pasture. All clovers are perennials and reproduce by seed. It is important to understand however that short-cropped grazing for horses creates a number of problems. There will always be a market for small square bales of quality hay as most horse owners do not have the equipment to handle large round or square bales. The proportions will vary from the original seeding proportions. This will result in delayed births and dead, weak or dying foals. If you notice that your horse is gaining weight or becoming obese, reduce the amount of clover you are feeding. You need to make sure it's not alsike clover, which is toxic to horses (yes seriously - and no, this is a totally separate thing from 'clover slobbers'). Read about soil testing for horse pasture here. The right soil test is important so that all the nutrients needed are applied at the right levels for the pasture. If it is not suppressed by lush pasture grasses able to grow on a soil with adequate nutrients, then clover will spread and become the dominant plant within the field. Clovers can sometimes mold, which causes slobbers, photosensitivity (reactive to light)and bleeding. Phytoestrogens are plant-derived chemicals that have a structure similar to the hormone estrogen. Apr 14, 2016. yes, some horses can also become photosensitized from clover, plus, as mentioned, if that fungus is present, create slobber disease. Clover, especially red clover, takes longer to dry than other forage species. There are five kinds of clover hay: red, common white, crimson, alsike, and landino. Clover tends to become moldy when the temperature is above 80 F and the humidity is above 60 percent. These blotches are usually closer to the ground where the humidity is highest. Alfalfa Hay for Horses The Good, the Bad, and the Not So Good Hay can be a composition of one or more legumes or grasses at various proportions depending on the composition of the plants in the field from which the hay was harvested. When feeding clover to horses, its best to mix it with other forage or hay to create a more balanced meal. Clovers are particularly useful because they can be used to improve pastures and hay fields by frost seeding. Mow, thin clover standsor improve water drainage to create air flow and lower the chances of mold. 5. Aerate fields when heavy traffic or compacted areas begin to develop. Some horses, which have been accustomed to it, graze it readily. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. User Agreement and Privacy Policy. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. As a hay crop, clover is hard to dry and becomes moldy. He is the author of, http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/horses/facts/info_alsike_clover.htm, http://sis.agr.gc.ca/pls/pp/poison?p_x=px, http://vet.purdue.edu/depts/addl/toxic/plant18.htm, http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/hrs10688/$FILE/alsike_clover_toxicity_in_horses.pdf, Question about CDT shot for newborn goat kids. Mold-infected clover can cause slobbers, liver damageand bleeding in horses. Hay is a vital part of a horse's diet. Horses showing signs of very advanced liver disease have little chance of survival. Feeding clover to your horse | UMN Extension White clover is from the Mediterranean and western Asia. The chemical dicoumarol in the molds blocks normal blood clotting in animals that consume large quantities. Clover is a great source of nutrition for horses, and its easy to grow. So, what happens if you have other types of clover or a lot of clover? These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. A negative Coggins test is required for all travel between states and at most equine facilities. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. An unknown mold changes naturally occurring cumarol in sweet clover to dicumerol, a blood thinning drug. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. All rights reserved. The most fatal effect of long-term exposure to affected clover is liver damage. Yes, it is true, but it only happens when a horse consumes moldy clover. Hay Typically, hay is a prized feed for horses. Kate Chalmers is a qualified veterinary nurse who has specialized in horse care for the vast majority of her career. Grass hay typically can't meet the increased demand for horses' energy when they are worked; this is especially true for racehorses, sport horses, and endurance horses. In a fresh state it is very high in carbohydrate content and low in fibre content. That is 1.5% to 3% of its body weight, if it weighs about 1,000 pounds (450 kg). The fiber content helps keep your horse's digestive system functioning properly. Here are some tips on how to safely feed clover to your horse: When giving clover to your horse, start with small amounts and gradually increase the amount over time. Can Horses Drink Beer? Grains such as soybeans and canola are prone to bloat. Generally a horse has to consume these plants for several months before the liver effects become severe. HayFarmGuy - Get Info About Farm Animals in Your Inbox, Why Do Penguins Slide on Their Bellies? 4. In conjunction with overseeding, resting pasture, topping it and never allowing it to become overgrazed, compacted and stressed will soon see the clover just disappearing as if by magic. Subscribe and Save! Sweet clover poisoning occurs as a result of molds that grow in poorly managed sweet clover silage or hay that is put up too wet. She has backed and trained many horses during her lifetime and competed in various equestrian sports at different levels. Alfalfa hay is well accepted by horses. It provides a sufficient supply of Nitrogen for the plants ensuring healthy pasture without having to top-dress with fertilizer. Hay can also be contaminated with clover if it is improperly put up or stored improperly. If your horse has slobbers, make sure they have free access to water to prevent dehydration. Benefits of adding legumes to pasture Grass more than 8 cm in length to standing hay is more preferable. An excess of any type of food is bad for horses, and eating too much clover can be bad for your horse. So can horses eat clover? Wed love to hear your thoughts about is clover bad for horses! Are clovers good for horse pasture and hay? | Livestock | hpj.com There are 293,000 horses in the province of Ontario. We are here to make a difference to horses and their owners around the world because every horse matters to us. The mold can also occur in hay that contains dried clover. Hay is 90% dry matter; therefore, 20lbof dry matter is equal to 20 x 100/90 = 22lbof hay on an as fed basis). Do you worry about the amount of clover you have growing in your horses fields? Clover is also a pasture filler that can grow over bare spots and prevent the emergence of less beneficial weeds. Horse-consuming clover affected with Black Botch disease may develop bad sunburn and photosensitivity. Horses and other animals grazing on the pasture often eat clover along with the grasses. Concern for the horse is further amplified if the clover itself is not healthy and contaminated with a fungus or other toxins. Clover often grows with the hay on other grass on the pasture field. Slaframine poisoning is not life-threatening, but it can cause excessive salivation. The liver is damaged by substances called alkaloids contained in the clover. 23 Hello all, The field that my horse has moved into is covered in clover, is it ok for them to eat???? The fungus infects red clover, white clover, alsike clover, and alfalfa. This mold produces the toxin slaframine, which causes slobbers. What You Need To Know About Horse Hay - myhorseuniversity Horses with slobbers can fill several five-gallon pails with saliva in one day. White and Yellow Sweet Clover is not generally found in pasture or hay mixes but grows along roadways and in older hay fields. The nitrogen radical will be excreted in the urine. Normal horses can tolerate NSC levels of 20% or higher. Generally, herbicide application is recommended while clover is actively growing and before it gets too large. Is clover high in sugar? The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. This means it is important to know about the clover on your land, so you can take the appropriate steps to keep your horse safe. The 1996Ontario Horse Industry Study indicates that hay valued at $100million is consumed by horses in Ontario annually. Alsike clover poisoning, photosensitization or photodermatitis in horses A grazing approach that rotates horses around their grazing area as if they are migrating animals will allow the pasture to have periods of rest and to be managed to prevent overgrazing. The answer might surprise you - find out what the experts say on this fascinating topic. She has been around horses since she was a child, starting out riding ponies and helping out at the local stables before going on to college to study Horse Care & Management. Can Horses Eat Clover? - HayFarmGuy Alsike clover causes photosensitivity in horses. Note: This feature currently requires accessing the site using the built-in Safari browser. Other symptoms occasionally include tearing, skin lesions, difficulty breathing, increased urination and feed refusal. Nutritional Value of Clover There are several strategies to reduce drooling caused by Rhizoctonia: Alsike clover creates a photosensitivity response secondary to damage in the liver caused by alkaloid in the plants. Alfalfa, and clover hay for that matter, are both legumes. Red clover causes "slobbers" in horses. To have a better experience, you need to: We're moving content over from an older government website. They are the most common leguminous plants in horse fields and convert atmospheric nitrogen to plant-available nitrogen. For horses, alfalfa and clover are the two legume hays most commonly fed. . Clover can be a good feed source for most horses because it provides useful energy and adequate protein and fiber. The answer might surprise you find out what the experts say on this fascinating topic. Can Horses Eat Blueberries? There are many ways to contact the Government of Ontario. Can Cows Eat Clover? (What Happens If They Do) - Informed Farmers Equine Pathology. Can Horses Eat Clover? - Bella's Diet Fence your horses out of clover-rich pastures in very wet years or periods of high humidity. Can horses eat clover? There are certain caveats to that point, so read on to find out more. The clover plants themselves are non-toxic and it is the fungus that contains the toxin slaframine that causes the undesirable symptoms in horses. Horses grazing in pastures where clover is present face health problems depending on the type of clover, how much is present in the forage, and whether or not it is contaminated with fungus or other toxins. Tie the plants into bundles using twine or string. Seed head is similar to white clover but more pinkish-white. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Assuming that a small square bale of hay weighs 50lb, this represents about a bale of hay per day per mature 1000 pound horse. Is it ok for horses to eat clover | Horse and Hound Forum It self-seeds easily and is also commonly included in horse pasture seed mixes. Either ingestion of a mycotoxin produced by the fungal growth or perhaps even skin contact with the irritating mycotoxin may be a contributing factor to this skin reaction. Clover is a legume, and legumes are known for their high protein content. Grass needs to have a recovery time between being grazed, and not, so as to thrive. Lets find out everything you need to know about clover and horses!if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'besthorserider_com-box-4','ezslot_6',125,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-besthorserider_com-box-4-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'besthorserider_com-box-4','ezslot_7',125,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-besthorserider_com-box-4-0_1');.box-4-multi-125{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. However, the affected clover with mold and fungus can cause Clover Poisoning. Yes, horses can eat clover, Putting all the concerns aside, clover is a useful forage or feed source which offers adequate protein, energy, and fiber to help meet the daily requirements of a horse. Clover is a good source of nutrition for horses and can be fed at any time of year. Horse owners spray pasture with different insecticides and other things and then blame clover for all the health-related issues in their horses. Clover can be a useful part of this mix, and it is recommended that horse pasture should consist of up to 20% clover.