Home Messages Is it safe to feed a red/white clover alfalfa mix grass to sheep and lambs?

Is it safe to feed a red/white clover alfalfa mix grass to sheep and lambs?

	Member	Message
	Anderson7	Posted 08/07/12 02:19PM  Changed 00/00/00 12:00AM
	mudflats	Posted 08/07/12 06:39PM  Changed 00/00/00 12:00AM
		not during breeding season
	Kyhampbreeder	Posted 08/07/12 07:28PM  Changed 00/00/00 12:00AM
	Administrator	Why not ?
	mrchessie	Posted 08/07/12 08:32PM  Changed 00/00/00 12:00AM
		Add orchard grass to your mix and those four things are what are in my hay field and what we use to feed the sheep.
	ARlambs	Posted 08/07/12 09:40PM  Changed 00/00/00 12:00AM
		Thought white clover has same poison as Johnson Grass? I think it is ok as hay, but grazing at times of drought stress produces cyanide? Someone smarter than me about this stuff, could offer better advice, just stated this to get feed back for my own information.
	DownWithHair	Posted 08/07/12 10:29PM  Changed 00/00/00 12:00AM
		I am feeding a clover(not sure what type) alfalfa hay right now. Everythibg is getting it, so what's the issue with breeding time? It's a beautiful bright green
	RockHollow	Posted 08/07/12 11:15PM  Changed 00/00/00 12:00AM
		we feed a endophite alfalfa grass clover mix hay... search endophites, I think it messes with the hormones of female animals... certain forages have them some dont... google it maybe. We never had any problems. anyone graze alfalfa/clover/grass mix? getting ready to turn hay field into a pasture and wondering if ill have to spray n reseed.
	Sheepherder007	Posted 08/07/12 11:16PM  Changed 00/00/00 12:00AM
		I think nitrate poisoning is what you are looking for in drought stress forages more than Prussic acid, however they can go hand in hand. Nitrates are normally higher when you have drought stressed forage and you get a little rain causing a growth spurt and then dry weather again. Prussic acid (AKA-Hydrocyanic acid) levels are normally highest immediately after a killing frost and animals should not be on previously green sudan,sorghum hybrid,Johnson Grass,White Clover,and fruit trees type forages for at least a week after killing frost or offer palatable alternative feedstuffs until plant has dried. Safest bet is to take them off. We just lot the animals for a week if grazing when killing frost happens. Prussic acid is not as big a problem in grasses as haygrazer type forages but can occur. Sheep are more tolerant to nitrate than cattle, but have a limit too and I have seen hay with several thousand ppm tests. Keep cattle below 350 and sheep below 750ppm.
	TO6	Posted 08/08/12 12:35AM  Changed 00/00/00 12:00AM
		Prussic acid goes away if you store the hay for several months, I don't think the nitate does.
	MichellefromOR	Posted 08/12/12 10:38AM  Changed 00/00/00 12:00AM
		Red clover should not be fed anywhere near breeding time. Google it and you will see numerous articles on red clover causing a pseudo estrogen that will affect breeding.
	Kyhampbreeder	Posted 08/12/12 12:30PM  Changed 00/00/00 12:00AM
	Administrator	With some varieties in a pure stand. In mixed grass pastures it would seldom be an issue. You might find it interesting that alfalfa is listed as poisonous to sheep in the Cornell Poison Plant Index. Most articles you'll find linking fertlity to red clover are from Australia and New Zealand. Red clover varieties not grown in the US .
	Cullen	Posted 08/13/12 04:46PM  Changed 00/00/00 12:00AM
		http://varietytesting.tamu.edu/criticalinformation/drought/Nitrate%20and%20Prussic%20Acid%20Poisoning%20L-5231.pdf
	DonD1	Posted 08/13/12 05:45PM  Changed 00/00/00 12:00AM
		There are caveats to a lot of good practices. The very dry conditions can cause issues when a mix has been safe. I don't know of many sheep pastures that are solely this mix. I recall reading of pastures with grass plus clover and/or alfalfa. We have close 1/3 to 1/2 legumes in our pastures and haven't had negative consequences.

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