In general, the cattle affected by frothy bloat, technically called primary ruminal tympany, have eaten too much clover. Though clover improves pasture quality, ingesting too much of it can be damaging because it can cause fermentation gases to be trapped inside the cattle's rumen, or stomach, Lehmkuhler explained.

Is clover bad for cattle?

Mouldy sweet clover poisoning in cattle is caused by the ingestion of sweet clover hay or ensilage containing dicoumarol. Poisoning is characterized by extensive hemorrhages into tissues throughout the body and severe blood loss after injury, surgery or parturition. ... All ages of cattle are susceptible.

Can cows eat too much clover?

Cattle fed hay with moldy sweet clover could be consuming the toxin dicoumarol. Unfortunately it doesn't take much dicourmarol to cause a problem. ... Pregnant cows may abort or give birth to stillborn calves if they are consuming moldy sweet clover hay.