| Term | Bird's-foot trefoil |
| Category | Herbs |
| Definition | Bird's-foot trefoil is a yellow-flowering legume found in meadows and pastures. In small quantities, it can be a component of species-rich horse pastures. |
| Effects & Benefits | Bird's-foot trefoil provides protein and phytochemicals. Some varieties and stands also contain condensed tannins. In normal quantities, bird's-foot trefoil is not considered a typical toxic plant for horses. |
| Application | Bird's-foot trefoil is not normally fed as a single herb but is rather consumed via pasture or hay. Supplementary feeding is generally not necessary. |
| Fresh or dried? | Bird's-foot trefoil can occur fresh in the pasture or dried in hay. A varied diet without an excessive proportion of individual plant species is crucial. |
| Important to know | Bird's-foot trefoil can form cyanogenic compounds. This means that under certain conditions, hydrogen cyanide can be released. With normal pasture occurrence, the risk is usually low, but large or one-sided intake should be avoided. |
| Related terms | Pasture herbs · Legumes · Tannins · Hydrogen cyanide · Clover |
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