Re: RE: Alsike Clover

["Duncan Fletcher" <dfletche@gte.net>]

There appears to be a very serious conflict in information here. My
information which came from the equine toxicoligist at Washington State
University (her name escapes me at the moment) indicates that Alsike clover
is a serious problem in the Pacific Northwest. I am uncertain as to the
incidence on the east vs west side of the Cascades.

This applies to Alsike clover only, and not other varieties - which explains
the fact the pasture mixes may contain clover.

Sorry for the delayed response - just catching up on old e-mail.

Duncan Fletcher
dfletche@gte.net


----- Original Message -----
From: <guest@endurance.net>
To: <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Thursday, August 05, 1999 2:10 PM
Subject: RC: RE: Alsike Clover


Karen Standefer kstandef@teleport.com
After being completely alarmed by the posts regarding Alsike Clover (because
I have it in my pastures), I called my vet to inquire.  They had never heard
of any sort of clover poisoning.  But, she was intrigued and contacted our
County Extension office.  They, also confirmed the the Pacific Northwest and
most of the West Coast do not have issues with horses grazing clover fields
during any time of the year (wet or dry).  The Extension officer, after
doing some research, came back and said that there are issues with clover
poisoning primarily in the NE and some in the Mid-West.  When asked the
difference, he stated the mineral content of the land has a lot to do with
it.  The PNW is natorious for being lower in most minerals than other places
in the country and most especially on the West side of the Cascades where
most pastures contain at least some clover if not a high percentage.  And,
in fact, clover is included in seed form in most of the grass seed mixes
sold specifically for horse pasture.

My vet suggested people check with their local County Extension office to
determine if their horses could be at risk for clover poisoning.

In the Pacific Northwest, the most common poisoning from pasture forage is
from Tansey Weed and False Dandelion per the County Extension Officer for
Clackamas County Oregon.

Karen Standefer, Rafiq and Crystal (shewwww.....that was close...thought
they were going to tell us we were gonners!)





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