Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) Sainfoin provides excellent forage for grazing animals and voluntary intake of sainfoin by cattle and sheep is 20% higher than for grass. It is non-bloating and is known to have anthelmintic properties, so reducing the problems associated with livestock worms. Sainfoin contains condensed tannins, and it is these that protect animals against bloat. Sainfoin has also been shown to increase protein absorption.

The origin of the name is interesting: Onobrychis means "devoured by donkeys", from Ancient Greek ónos (ὄνος, "donkey") and brýkein (βρύκειν, "to eat greedily"). This refers to sainfoin's good properties as a forage plant for large mammalian herbivores.
Sainfoin is derived from Old French sain foin ("healthy hay"). Sibillini, Umbria, Italy May 2021