Bloat has been observed on alfalfa, white clover, and red clover pastures but is rare on trefoil sainfoin and vetch pastures. Cattle should never be introduced to an alfalfa pasture until they have been fed to satiety. Contributing causes of bloat include, an inherited tendency for bloat, certain proteins in forage, the ... only a few of the cattle in the lot. Alfalfa is one of the few forages that is capable of sustaining levels of production that are comparable to those achieved in the feedlot. Other strategies of bloat prevention such as wilting of alfalfa also lower soluble protein levels in the alfalfa and reduce bloat risk. Sudden access to grain can also lead to frothy bloat. Increase availability of hay. Bloat always must be a concern, but alfalfa that has been frosted and started to dry down has fewer tendencies to cause bloat than summer alfalfa. There are, however, some risks producers need to be aware of and precautions that need to be followed when grazing alfalfa and alfalfa/grass hay stands, Sedivec said. Alfalfa is recognized as one of the most nutritious forages available and is widely used as conserved forage (ex, hay, silage) in the diets of beef and dairy cattle. This often occurs with high-protein forages such as alfalfa or certain clovers, but can also be problem when lush cereal forages or brassicas are grazed. Ruminants are unique in their ability to readily digest the cell wall components of forages and it is this ability that gives them a competitive advantage over other meat producing animals. Anti-bloat capsules which stay in … In the first case, the producer backgrounded a couple of hundred five-cwt steers to 900 lbs. The factors. Grazing alfalfa can be toxic to cattle, sheep and other ruminant animals, as live alfalfa plants with moisture on the leaves will cause bloat (a build-up of gas) in all ruminant animals. Although uncommon, bloat can still occur in cattle grazing alfalfa in the bloom stage especially if they are hungry when turned into the pasture. Here are 5 Tips to prevent pasture bloat: 1. Ruminant livestock grazing lush pastures of alfalfa, clovers and small grains are prone to a condition called “frothy bloat.” Rapid digestion of forage containing highly-soluble proteins results in a stable foam which prevents rumen gases from being expelled by normal eructation (belching). Keep dry hay out where cattle pass by it daily. Winter wheat can also cause bloat when it is lush in the spring. Bloat can occur on any lush forage that is low in fiber and highly digestible, but is most common on immature legume (clover and alfalfa) pastures. As myths go, the idea that alfalfa contributes to bloat in horses is inflated. Be careful during early fall frosts; cell walls are broken by freezing and make alfalfa highly digestible. Never move cattle in the morning. Winter wheat can also cause bloat when it is lush in the spring. Have "escape" pastures, the ability to exit from alfalfa if conditions for grazing are very poor. As a means to control the risk of bloat, some farmers practise co-cropping bloat safe legumes and wilt alfalfa prior to consumption. However, there is often a lag of 24 to 48 hours before bloating occurs in cattle Also, although cows can feed on alfalfa, excess feed can be detrimental to health. This can be an expensive supplement, but it works well when animals eat a uniform amount each day. Feedlot bloat or dry bloat is caused by excessive consumption of grain, hay cubes or hay. Conditions that may lead to frothy bloat include consumpiton of lush legumes such as clover or alfalfa, either in green feeds or as new hay; recent turnout to legume pastures, and wet grass pastures. Although several technologies have been developed to reduce the risk of bloat, it is highly unlikely that any of these will completely eliminate the occurrence of bloat on alfalfa pasture. Also, maintain access to dry hay or corn stalks while grazing alfalfa to help reduce bloat. Consequently, many experienced producers do not allow their cattle to graze alfalfa until it is in full bloom. It often occurs secondary to … Feed bloat-preventing compounds. I've never heard of acidosis from alfalfa hay, but it can cause bloat, which can also kill deer. If water source is controlled it works well. Cattle generally have three to four grazing bouts per day on alfalfa pastures. The Land. ), The National Academies Press: Agriculture, Does frost on alfalfa cause increased risk of bloat in cattle. 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