Cause
a. Sweet clover contains coumarin, a substance of no consequence per se.
b. Under the right conditions, such as spoilage, "heating," moldiness, etc. -- the coumarin present in either sweet clover hay or silage is converted into DICOUMAROL.
c. Dicoumarol is an anticoagulant, no different that D-con or Warfarin. Dicoumarol disrupts the normal clotting mechanisms of blood in goats ingesting contaminated sweet clover forage.
d. Dicoumarol has a "cumulative" effect: the longer goats ingest dicoumarol, even very small amounts, the greater the chances for poisoning to occur.

Signs
a. Some goats are just found dead, victims of extensive internal hemorrhages.
b. Others may have subcutaneous hematomas (large blood blisters), may bleed through their noses, be anemic, and eventually die from excessive bleeding.
c. Many animals will appear stiff and/or lame due to bleeding into the muscles and joints.
d. Kids born to does consuming toxic sweet clover may be born weak and will die from hemorrages.
c. Pregnant does may abort.

Treatment
a. It is essential to STOP FEEDING the offending sweet lover forage (hay or silage).
b. Severe cases respond only to blood transfusions, and/or vitamin K, (vitamin K, is of value for treatment).
c. Mild to moderate cases may be treated with Vitamin K.
d. Affected animals should be handled with care to avoid further bruising and hematomas.

Prevention
a. The best prevention is not to feed sweet clover hay or silage, although this is not always economical.
b. If sweet clover hay or silage must be used in a given operation, proper haying or ensiling practices are essential. The prevention of sweet clover poisoning starts at harvest time.
c. Plant sweet clover varieties which are low in coumarin.
d. It is a good practice to have sweet clover forage analyzed before offering to goats. The Toxicology Section of the Veterinary Science Department can perform such an analysis.
e. Sweet clover forage should not be fed to pregnant does, especially during the last 8-10 weeks of gestation.
f. If one must feed sweet clover forage which is known to contain dicoumarol, no guideline is strict enough. At any rate, such sweet clover should not be fed continuously for over 6 days, and if fed, forage other that Sweet clover must be fed at least 3 consecutive weeks ... (1 week sweet clover followed by 3 weeks without it).

This article is used by permission and is part of:
Nutritional Effects on Goat Health
by Helen A. Swartz
State Sheep, Goat and Livestock Specialist
Lincoln University Cooperative Extension