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Re: facial eczema in horses?



Horses pastured on alsike clover can develop many of the symptoms you note.
Horses don't usually like alsike, but if they're hungry they'll eat it. And if
they eat very much over time they can develop photosensitivity, then liver
problems. In acute cases a horse or two may die. I don't know about facial
excema. Alsike can build up in horse pastures, since horses don't like it
and graze other growth into the ground first. This favors the alsike,
which can come to predominate, if grazing pressure is
heavy on everything else. Alsike is often included in seed
mixtures for pastures. That's fine for other livestock, but not for
horses. I  advise seed companies not to include alsike in pasture
mixes designed for horses. I know one that lost megadollars in a law suit
over two valuable horses who sickened (photosensitivity) and died (liver
problems) after being pastured on nearly pure alsike for several weeks. A
check for alsike in your pastures may be worthwhile.  Bill Pardee  Cornell wdp5@cornell.edu



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