Originally shipped to the United States in the 1930’s to help reduce soil erosion, the Chinese bush clover (Sericea lespedeza) is now being used to promote the health of pasture-grazing mammals. When the Chinese bush clover is put into pelleted form, it can be added to livestock’s feed.  When consumed by the animals, the clover prevents the rapid replication of worms that may be present in their stomach walls by interfering with the reproductive cycles of the nematodes. If this reproduction is not prevented, more than 5,000 eggs of the nematode could be excreted every day in an animal’s manure.

The excreted larvae become extremely infectious and can be deleterious to the health of grazing animals. When an animal consumes a patch of grass with the infectious larvae, the larvae parasitizes the blood of the unlucky mammal, leading to weakness, anemia, or even death. Implementation of the Chinese bush clover can have far reaching effects on agricultural industry across the world.

Discussion Question: How might the Chinese bush clover interfere with nematode reproduction?

News Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100218125206.htm
Journal Article: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science