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Bloating problems in Clover pasture
- Thread starter BIGBOY2
- Start date
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PREVENTION OF BLOAT
Cattle and pasture management, as well as the
use of surfactants and additives will help to reduce the
incidence of pasture bloat. Occurrence of bloat is affected
by a combination of climatic conditions, soil fertility,
forage maturity and grazing management factors.
Reducing the incidence of bloat may require changes in
several management practices, as well as close management
of grazing animals.
Grazing Management. Possible pasture management
techniques include managing interseeded, or
"mixed" pastures to maintain no more than 50 percent
alfalfa or clover, and selecting alfalfa and clover varieties
with less potential for causing bloat.
Cattle Management. Fill cattle on dry roughage
before introducing them to bloat-susceptible pastures.
If possible, delay initial turnout until midday, when
pastures are dry. Where facilities and labor management
permit, identify animals with greater susceptibility
to bloat and manage them separately.
Use of Surfactants. Surfactants, or anti-foaming
agents, have been used successfully in some grazing
situations. Spraying surfactants on bloat-provoking
pastures when conditions are conducive to bloating
works well, especially in highly controlled grazing systems
with small paddocks. An alternative to pasture
spraying is to add the agent to drinking water; however,
addition to drinking water may be less effective
because of variation in water consumption.
Poloxalene. Several studies indicate that feeding
poloxalene (Bloat Guard) at levels of 1 to 2 grams/100
pounds of body weight per day dramatically reduces
bloat. Poloxalene is a mild detergent that reduces the
surface tension of the foam, resulting in decreased formation
of foam and release of gasses entrapped in the
foam. There are several products available for use in
grazing programs, including mineral supplements,
blocks, liquid feeds and top dresses. It is important to
remember that in order to be effective, adequate
amounts of poloxalene must be consumed on a regular
basis. Guaranteed consumption of a sufficient amount
of poloxalene may mean hand-feeding 1 to 2 pounds of
a highly palatable supplement containing poloxalene
each day.
Ionophores. Although not as effective as
poloxalene, Rumensin and Bovatec have been shown to
reduce the incidence and severity of frothy bloat while
also improving animal performance. Research with
winter wheat pasture indicates that ionophores may reduce
the incidence of bloat by reducing the amount of
gas produced by microbes in the rumen. Ionophores
work well when included in supplementation programs,
providing a level of bloat protection while improving
daily gains throughout the grazing season.
SUMMARY
The occurrence of frothy bloat in grazing livestock
is initiated primarily by a rapid release of plant
cell contents that are quickly degraded and fermented
in the rumen. The gasses produced in the rumen are
then trapped in a thick foam that prevents the animal
from expelling the produced gasses. While actual death
loss due to bloat may be small, subclinical bloat can reduce
animal performance and increase labor and medical
costs. Evaluating your pasture management techniques,
watching cattle closely, and providing
bloat-reducing products can reduce the occurrence of
bloat and improve animal performance when grazing
lush, high-quality forages.
Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service
It is the policy of Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service that all persons shall have equal opportunit y and
access to its educational programs, services, activities, and materials without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age or disability. Kansas State
Universit y is an equal opportunity organization. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, as amended. Kansas
State University, County Extension Councils, Extension Districts, and United States Department of Agriculture Cooperating, Marc A. Johnson, Director.
Contact: Steve Paisley
Extension Specialist
Livestock Production, South Central
Telephone: 316-663-5491
FAX: 316-662-9197
E-mail: [email protected]
Cattle and pasture management, as well as the
use of surfactants and additives will help to reduce the
incidence of pasture bloat. Occurrence of bloat is affected
by a combination of climatic conditions, soil fertility,
forage maturity and grazing management factors.
Reducing the incidence of bloat may require changes in
several management practices, as well as close management
of grazing animals.
Grazing Management. Possible pasture management
techniques include managing interseeded, or
"mixed" pastures to maintain no more than 50 percent
alfalfa or clover, and selecting alfalfa and clover varieties
with less potential for causing bloat.
Cattle Management. Fill cattle on dry roughage
before introducing them to bloat-susceptible pastures.
If possible, delay initial turnout until midday, when
pastures are dry. Where facilities and labor management
permit, identify animals with greater susceptibility
to bloat and manage them separately.
Use of Surfactants. Surfactants, or anti-foaming
agents, have been used successfully in some grazing
situations. Spraying surfactants on bloat-provoking
pastures when conditions are conducive to bloating
works well, especially in highly controlled grazing systems
with small paddocks. An alternative to pasture
spraying is to add the agent to drinking water; however,
addition to drinking water may be less effective
because of variation in water consumption.
Poloxalene. Several studies indicate that feeding
poloxalene (Bloat Guard) at levels of 1 to 2 grams/100
pounds of body weight per day dramatically reduces
bloat. Poloxalene is a mild detergent that reduces the
surface tension of the foam, resulting in decreased formation
of foam and release of gasses entrapped in the
foam. There are several products available for use in
grazing programs, including mineral supplements,
blocks, liquid feeds and top dresses. It is important to
remember that in order to be effective, adequate
amounts of poloxalene must be consumed on a regular
basis. Guaranteed consumption of a sufficient amount
of poloxalene may mean hand-feeding 1 to 2 pounds of
a highly palatable supplement containing poloxalene
each day.
Ionophores. Although not as effective as
poloxalene, Rumensin and Bovatec have been shown to
reduce the incidence and severity of frothy bloat while
also improving animal performance. Research with
winter wheat pasture indicates that ionophores may reduce
the incidence of bloat by reducing the amount of
gas produced by microbes in the rumen. Ionophores
work well when included in supplementation programs,
providing a level of bloat protection while improving
daily gains throughout the grazing season.
SUMMARY
The occurrence of frothy bloat in grazing livestock
is initiated primarily by a rapid release of plant
cell contents that are quickly degraded and fermented
in the rumen. The gasses produced in the rumen are
then trapped in a thick foam that prevents the animal
from expelling the produced gasses. While actual death
loss due to bloat may be small, subclinical bloat can reduce
animal performance and increase labor and medical
costs. Evaluating your pasture management techniques,
watching cattle closely, and providing
bloat-reducing products can reduce the occurrence of
bloat and improve animal performance when grazing
lush, high-quality forages.
Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service
It is the policy of Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service that all persons shall have equal opportunit y and
access to its educational programs, services, activities, and materials without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age or disability. Kansas State
Universit y is an equal opportunity organization. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, as amended. Kansas
State University, County Extension Councils, Extension Districts, and United States Department of Agriculture Cooperating, Marc A. Johnson, Director.
Contact: Steve Paisley
Extension Specialist
Livestock Production, South Central
Telephone: 316-663-5491
FAX: 316-662-9197
E-mail: [email protected]
IluvABbeef
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2006
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BIGBOY2":npykj4k3 said:We have a pasture of fesue and clover and I was thinking that we may get into a bloating problems with heifer coming off feed and hay, going on these pastures. any thoughts. Locate in east TN.
She MAY have bloat if she's being selective and chooses the clover over the fescue, and if the alfalfa is in it's fast-growing leafy stage. But since you have an alfalfa-fescue mix, the fescue will decrease the chance of bloat because it slows down digestion rate.
So with that, if your still not convinced, provide what the other folks mentioned (Bovatec), and you can also provide a bit of roughage in the pasture. Another thing to think about is to not turn her out hungry, and keep an eye on her.
Bassett Lake Ranch
Member
We have had problems with both Cattle and Sheep getting bloated on early clover and alfalfa even though we had an alfalfa/clover/oat/grass mixture. Most of what I've read does not recommend letting either sheep or cattle eat clover or alfalfa until after the clover has bloomed or the alfalfa is "mature". So far, the cattle have faired well but, we've lost 3 sheep to bloat because the crop wasn't "mature" enough. So, I would recommend using caution when allowing cattle or sheep to feed on fresh or immature alfalfa or clover.
Use of Bloat Block has since helped with the sheep but, we have also since fenced off the alfalfa / clover to keep the sheep and cattle out. They will not be allowed into that field in the future until after the last cutting in the fall. Until then they're just getting the pasture mix we planted in the other pastures.
Use of Bloat Block has since helped with the sheep but, we have also since fenced off the alfalfa / clover to keep the sheep and cattle out. They will not be allowed into that field in the future until after the last cutting in the fall. Until then they're just getting the pasture mix we planted in the other pastures.
