If lambs are too young to wean and pasture is part of the program, a rigid parasite control program is a must. Summer Pasture Internal and external parasites are the biggest concern when using summer pasture for sheep. Lush pasture and wet wool increases the hazard of fly strikes. If alfalfa or an alfalfa-grass mix is part of the pasture program, bloat is a potential hazard. Using a bloat-guard surfactant block started three days before turning to pasture to prevent bloat has been tried with some success.
Most clovers can cause bloat, also.
The legumes birdsfoot trefoil, cicer milkvetch, and sainfoin do not cause bloat. This is due to a high estrogen level in most legumes that decreases the implantation rate of embryos. If sudan or sorghum-sudan pastures are grazed, drought stress can increase the hazard of prussic acid poisoning. Fall Pasture and Winter Management Milo and corn stalks are excellent sources of roughage and grain. However, corn and milo stubble grazing can cause acidosis or compaction, as well as enterotoxemia.