Clover

[Errin Paddywack]

Anyone else got masses of clover this year? I didn't think we had got much but most of our paddocks are white with it. Some of my lambs are really dirty despite treatment and I am blaming it on the clover.

 

[Pen]

Snap. Have never seen so much here in 25 years One paddock is more than 50% clover. Was all set to top it to make it more suitable for EMS grazing but then spotted the much desired yellow rattle which I want to go to seed so have postponed the topping.

 

[L&M]

We have loads too, even on the lawn.....seems to have been one weed after the next atm. Have never seen so many buttercups either, we have topped ours 3 times before we could get rid of the blighters.

 

[Birker2020]

I hate clover, it can cause ataxia in horses.

Horses with clover-associated liver damage often show neurologic signs such as depression, listlessness, head pressing, circling, ataxia (incoordination), poor appetite, and other unusual behaviours. Treatment consists of supportive care and ceasing exposure to clover. It contains a fungus called slaframine that stimulates the salivary glands of horses causing them to drool.

A previous horse had ataxic episodes and his field was full of it at the time, although it turned out it wasn't the cause. But I researched all the things that could cause ataxia like spraying chemicals in fields, ingestion of red clover, etc, etc. Its white clover that contains cyanide.

 

[eggs]

Just commented on the abundance of clover to my friend the other week. I've never seen so much of the stuff in my fields.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Yes, we have loads, especially since we moved the sheep off that grass. The horses don't seem that interested in clover and as they are on a track, they have access to hay too, so we aren't particularly worried about it. I believe it is the taller growing, pink variety which is more harmful, most of ours is white. It's the downside of having old meadows.

 

[holeymoley]

Funnily enough there is 2 fields at the yard that are amass with clover. I had a bit of a moan and said that someone at some point must have reseeded with a really cheap mix but it perhaps isn’t the case! ?

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Yes, plenty of white and the dratted pink, looks like it did when I last fertilised back in the 90s.

The late snow many of us had is very likely the culprit, and high clover means high nitrogen at present. I had similar in 89 when we had April snow, according to my yard notebooks.

 

[Sossigpoker]

Yes loads on clover here too especially on the verges leading to the paddocks that don't get fertilised.

 

[rabatsa]

Lots of clover here and sheep with dirty bums too.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Lots of clover here and sheep with dirty bums too.

Do you think it is the clover upsetting the sheep? I have one or two lambs I am getting worried about as nothing is working with them.

 

[Birker2020]

Do you think it is the clover upsetting the sheep? I have one or two lambs I am getting worried about as nothing is working with them.

See reply 4 in respect of symptoms of clover poisoning with horses. I should think lambs are quite susceptible as they are so much smaller.

 

[rabatsa]

Do you think it is the clover upsetting the sheep? I have one or two lambs I am getting worried about as nothing is working with them.

I am putting a lot down to the lack of fibre and high protein diet. Even the rams are a bit the same way.