Nutrition

Lucky Clovers

Christine Gelley, OSU Extension Educator ANR, Noble County
(Previously published online with: Ag Proud: Progressive Cattle, February 20, 2025)

(Image Source: Agricom: Pastures for Profit – New Zealand)

At A Glance:
For centuries the clover has been symbolic in cultures and religions in areas where clovers thrive. Whether found with leaves of three, four, or more- a field of clover is beneficial in many ways beyond folklore.

Clover Symbolism
March is the humble clover’s time to shine. Symbolic of luck, the celebration of Saint Patrick’s Day, the welcoming of spring, 4-H enrollment time, clovers are featured prominently in our culture this time of year and they become prominent in pastures too.

Much of the agricultural community will recognize a four-leaf clover as the iconic national symbol of 4-H, a youth development program delivered by Cooperative Extension services from Continue reading Lucky Clovers →

Nutrition Throughout Pregnancy for Sheep Flocks

Melanie Barkley, Senior Extension Educator: Livestock, Penn State Extension
(Previously published with Penn State Extension: July 7, 2022)

Feeding the sheep flock is a critical aspect of sheep production and management. Good nutrition influences the overall health status of the entire flock, as well as the growth performance of lambs. This is particularly important throughout the breeding season and pregnancy. Sheep need to eat a balanced diet in order to be healthy and productive.

Proper nutrition starts with the six classes of nutrients. These six classes of nutrients include water, carbohydrates, lipids (fats), protein, vitamins, and minerals. The proper balance of these nutrients can be achieved with a wide range of feed ingredients. A well-balanced diet during pregnancy will help ensure embryo survival and can also lead to healthy and vigorous lambs at birth.

Water is by far the most essential “nutrient” in a sheep diet. Fresh, clean water should always be available. Stale or dirty water will lead to decreased water intake, which ultimately will decrease feed intake. Decreased feed intake will Continue reading Nutrition Throughout Pregnancy for Sheep Flocks →

Frost Seeding Clover: A Recipe for Success

Chris D. Teutsch, S. Ray Smith, and Jimmy Henning, University of Kentucky

Figure 1. Clover and other legumes are an important part of sustainable grassland ecosystems. They form a symbiotic relationship with Rhizobium bacteria in which nitrogen from the air into a plant available form, improve nutritive value, and help to alleviate tall fescue toxicosis. (Photo by Chris Teutsch)

Legumes are an essential part of a strong and healthy grassland ecosystems (Figure 1). They form a symbiotic relationship with Rhizobium bacteria in which the bacteria fix nitrogen from the air into a plant available form and share it with the legume. Clover also increases forage quality and quantity and helps to manage tall fescue toxicosis. In the past, the positive impact of clover on tall fescue toxicosis has always been thought to simply be a dilution effect, but new research from the USDA’s Forage Animal Production Unit in Lexington shows that compounds found in red clover can reverse vasoconstriction that is caused by the ergot alkaloids in toxic tall fescue. The primary compound found in red clover is a vasodilator called Biochanin A.

Clover stands in pastures thin overtime due to various factors and require reseeding every three to four years. There are several techniques for reintroducing clover into pastures including no-till seeding, minimum tillage, and frost seeding. Of these techniques, frost seeding requires the least amount of equipment and is the simplest to implement. Frost seeding is accomplished Continue reading Frost Seeding Clover: A Recipe for Success →

Preventing Metabolic Diseases in Pregnant Goats

Michael Metzger, Michigan State University Extension Educator
(Previously published on MSU Extension, Sheep & Goat: December 10, 2024)

(Image Source: Michael Metzger, MSU Extension)

Meeting the nutritional requirements of the pregnant doe can prevent serious problems at the time of delivery and support subsequent milk production.

Nutrition is important during all phases of production in all classes of livestock and is particularly important during the breeding season and the resulting pregnancy. Goats need a balanced diet to be healthy and productive, and water is a crucial nutrient that is often overlooked. During the winter months, it is important to maintain a supply of fresh water that is not frozen for the animals. This article will describe the nutritional needs of gestating and lactating goats and some common metabolic diseases in gestating females.

Nutrition and vaccinations during gestation
The average gestation period for goats is 150 days. During the first two-thirds of gestation, there is Continue reading Preventing Metabolic Diseases in Pregnant Goats →

Moldy Hay or Baleage Poses Risks

Mike Rankin, Senior Editor, Hay & Forage Grower
(Previously published online with Hay & Forage Grower: December 24, 2024)

Hopefully, no haymaker puts up a crop that they know will mold; however, many haymakers have pushed the moisture limit and hoped the mold fairy wouldn’t pay a visit. Sometimes, she just comes uninvited.

“Most hay can become moldy when it is baled too wet, left in the field for too long, or stored outside in shaded areas where rain or humidity can slow down the drying process and increase the risk of mold,” notes Rocky Lemus, an extension forage specialist with Mississippi State University. “Hay that is cut and baled with a high amount of dirt, or hay where the plant shows signs of fungal diseases, could also contain spores that will germinate if exposed to moisture during storage.” Continue reading Moldy Hay or Baleage Poses Risks →

Mineral Considerations for Sheep

Jaelyn Whaley, South Dakota State University Extension Sheep Field Specialist
(Previously published online with South Dakota State University Extension: May 22, 2024)

Minerals play an integral role in many reactions throughout the body, and they are critical for animal health and performance. Bioavailability, individual animal consumption, individual mineral interactions, and variable plant and soil mineral concentrations make strategic mineral programs challenging. The differences between toxicity and deficiencies are small and can greatly affect sheep production.

Identifying Deficiencies
Precisely supplementing needed minerals begins with identifying potential deficiencies or toxicities of both macrominerals (Ca, P, Na, K, Mg, Cl) and microminerals (Cu, Mn, Zn, Se, Co, I). If your ewes are on pasture, shrub and forb species are generally higher in mineral concentration than grasses. Therefore, forage sampling that is representative of sheep grazing behavior and your pasture serves accurate assessment of mineral consumption. Making sure that Continue reading Mineral Considerations for Sheep →

Quality Hay Tastes Great and is Less Filling

Mike Rankin, Senior Editor, Hay & Forage Grower
(Previously published online with Hay & Forage Grower: November 26, 2024)

Although written from a cattle perspective, today’s article from Mike Rankin highlights that benefits and challenges of feeding high quality hay. For those looking to stretch their winter feed supplies, a combination of all quality types of hay may be the solution…. Be sure to look in to this one folks!

Who can forget those old Miller Lite beer commercials when a variety of celebrities were enlisted to tout the product as either tasting great or being less filling? Of course, in the eyes of the Miller Brewing Company, the product was both.

The same can’t always be said for hay. High-quality hay, with excellent fiber digestibility, may take on the same advertised virtues of the beer, but poor-quality hay will definitely not. Continue reading Quality Hay Tastes Great and is Less Filling →