Red Clover Toxicity in Goats

Red clover, a common, three-leafed weed, grows abundantly throughout North America. Because of its hardy growth pattern and sweet flavor, red clover is an ideal fodder for goats, sheep, horses and other livestock. Red clover is not toxic to goats. However, large amounts can negatively impact a doe's fertility.

  1. Miconceptions

    • Red clover (T. pratense) is not the same species as Alsike clover (T. hybridum). Alsike clover can cause trifoliosis, or "clover disease" when light-skinned goats ingest it in large amounts. However, this risk is not present in the case of red clover.

    Benefits

    • Agronomist Paul R. Peterson recommends red and white clover as ideal fodder for goats. Peterson notes that red clover is hardier than many other fodder crops; it resists the alfalfa weevil, restores soil fertility and grows readily.

    Considerations

    • While red clover is nontoxic, it does contain phytoestrogens--plant-based compounds similar to estrogen. These compounds, which are also found in soy and alfalfa, may negatively effect a female goat's ability to conceive. However, there are no reports of any other significant side effects.

    Prevention

    • Some veterinarians and goat-breeders recommend a low-phytoestrogen diet as a treatment for infertility in female goats. There is no strong evidence to support the hypothesis that red clover causes problems during the goat's pregnancy or lactation.

    Other Risks

    • The fungus Rhizoctonia leguminicola, which is mildly toxic, sometimes grows on the leaves of red clover plants. Infected plants have black patches covering large portions of the leaves. A goat may drool excessively or develop mild diarrhea after eating large amounts of R. leguminicola; however, moderate amounts will not serious reactions. Do not allow a goat to eat plants with black patches or other signs of fungal infection.