Milkvetch (nitro-toxin types)
Astragalus spp. (nitro-toxin species)
- Plant type
- forb
- Settings
- Rangeland
- Risk
- Moderate risk Our rating from the cited sources.
- Review
- Not yet reviewed by a veterinarian.
Photos
Planned.
How to tell it
Pea-family plant with pinnately compound leaves and pea-like flowers; confirm species locally (ARS).
Look-alikes: Planned.
What to do on a site walk
- Limit time.
- Avoid during early growth.
Why it matters
- Toxic principle
- Nitro-toxins (miserotoxin and related compounds)
- Toxic parts
- Whole plant until it dries
- Basis for our rating
- Chewgrass rating. ARS reports cattle, sheep and horse losses; goats not named. Langston advises keeping pregnant does off milkvetch.
Signs in goats
Labored breathing, weakness in the hind legs, knuckling at the fetlocks, goose-stepping gait (ARS, other species).
If you think an animal has been poisoned, call your vet right away.
Season
Toxic from emergence until the plant dries in late summer (ARS).
Sources
Links last checked: 2026-10-31