Incorporating legumes into pastures to reduce the impact of fescue toxicosis, provide nitrogen for forages, and improve pasture quality leading to increased animal performance is still sound management even though legume bloat is a risk to livestock. Individual animal performance is greater on grass/legume pastures compared to performance on similar monoculture grass stands. If one considers the number of cattle grazing
pastures containing legumes worldwide, the fear of bloat leading to low incorporation of legumes into grazed swards will give rise to greater economic losses compared to establishing a mixed sward of grasses and legumes. Find this publication on the UK Forage Extension website under the livestock disorders tab.