As a forage crop agronomist, clover has always been the holy grail. Clover in pastures improves soil condition, supplies nitrogen to companion grasses when recycled back to pasture as manure and urine, increases yield, increases intake of both protein and energy and can eliminate the need for supplemental fertilizer nitrogen (N) when high-yielding legumes like red clover are present in grass pastures.

Dr. Murl Bailey is a professor of toxicology and emergency medicine in the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He is an expert on toxins that adversely affect livestock, including those found in plants.

Purple prairie clover (PPC, Dalea purpurea Vent.) is an important native perennial legume widely distributed across North America with high palatability, adaptability and forage quality.

In the last several decades, two grazing management strategies have become the go-to for most pasture-based livestock operations: rotational and mob grazing.