Hi-does anyone know the NSC value of red clover? Thank you.
I dont know it, but always assumed those sweet blossoms full of nectar must be high in sugar!
Me, too… and I just found it…
I’m editing this post. Very interesting about Katy. I’ll look there. Equi-Analytical shows the average NSC of legume hay as 11.004. The average of grass hay is 12.85.
Well, our local grass hay can be NSC 25.
I don’t think it’s going to harm a horse to graze a bit of clover. On the other hand I knew horses living in a field that was predominantly white clover. It grew back almost as fast as it was eaten and everyone stayed in good weight. I assumed it must have high calories for the volume.
Katy Watts has on her safergrass.org website that clover is not an appropriate forage for IR horses. I, unfortunately, have turnouts that are mostly clover. Cannot even turn out on it. 
I’m working to reduce the amount - soil testing, fertilize and maybe even rototill it under and start over.
I would till and reseed. Clover is very tenacious
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We spray for clover and it’s gone. I can check w my agronomist to see what he uses. I’ve been looking at Katy’s website but can’t find where she says clover in not appropriate. I believe it…but can you share where you see that? Thank you.
Look at the very bottom of this page regarding clover being unacceptable.
That makes sense. Just get it over with.
Thank you. This is so interesting to me, as the NSC for legume hay is lower than that of grass hay on Equi-Analytical’s website. The NFC for legume hay is significantly higher than that of grass hay.
Hardly any red clover here but we are absolutely polluted with alsike,which produces slobbers under the right conditions, and also hop clover. Both are really getting out of control.
2-4-D considers clover a weed - they (and various other unwanted green stuff) will meet this Fall and I won’t feel bad about it.
We keep this place well bush hogged. We have only sprayed weed killer on the pastures once in 18 years. The first being when we came out of the 2009 exceptional drought status and I saw mostly weeds and dry cracked ground on at least 14 acres. I wanted to give the grass a chance to grow.
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I’d be more concerned about liver disease than slobbers where alsike is concerned.
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That is interesting. So what do they mean by legume hay? What exactly?
Kentucky Equine Research has a nice article about the differences. I would link it if I knew how. The legumes I am familiar w are clover, alfalfa, and peas. From Agronomy 200 a long time ago, I believe they are considered ‘nitrogen-fixing’ which is why some farmers plants grass w legume.
The difference between NSC and NFC in alfalafa hay could be due to the percentage pectin, which is a healthy thing for horses. There isn’t much pectin in grass hay.
Hmmmm… thank you. That is really interesting.
Yes - clover, alfalfa, they are nitrogen fixing and used sometimes as cover crops. Rototilled under to improve the soil for later planting of another crop.
I think peanut is a legume hay also?
Is this the article you read? https://ker.com/equinews/horse-hay-fiber-content-affects-intake/?highlight=differences%20in%20legume%20hay
or this one? https://ker.com/equinews/hay-selection-for-horses/?highlight=what%20is%20legume%20hay
Hi! Thank you for linking those. I found them both interesting.
are you confusing red clover with Alsike? You do not not not ever want a horse to graze Alsike clover - good way to cause major liver damage and extreme photosensitivity
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It’s good you’re having the soil tested… if your clover is taking over you most likely have a nitrogen deficiency.
