Bloat
As with many green-pasture crops, grazing cowpea may cause bloat in sheep or cattle. This may occur when hungry livestock enter the sward. However, the danger is far less than with alfalfa, and decreases as cowpea becomes more mature (Mullen, 1999).
Photosensitization
Cowpea forage can cause photosensitivity around the face and ears in a small percentage of sheep, particularly crossbred lambs, but this is not considered a major or regular problem (Mullen, 1999).