Bloat is a risk when animals are grazing young, lush pasture, particularly if the pasture has high legume content (clover, medics or lucerne). Ruminant animals produce large volumes of gas during the normal process of digestion. This gas either is belched up or passes through the gastrointestinal tract. If something interferes with gas escape from the rumen, bloat occurs.

This Primefact discusses the following:

• What is bloat?
• Bloat in cattle
• Treating cattle
• Bloat in sheep
• Treating sheep
• Prevention
• Lists of products available for bloat control and treatment