What plants are really poisonous?

stanb999 · #1 09/29/10, 01:14 PM

I have pasture that was woods, then brush, now mostly grass and weeds. Goats have been eating at it for a while and I think I'm ready to make the leap to a dairy cow. They havn't had any issues. But the "pasture" does contain....

Wild Cherry
Milkweed
Hawthorn
Ground Ive
thistle
and a ton of other weeds. The above are all deadly to goats.

Mine aren't dead. In fact they do well.

What are the real issues with potentially poisoness plants and cattle? Is it like goats in that if they have plenty to eat they wont eat all bad stuff and hurt themselves?

ksfarmer · #2 09/29/10, 04:44 PM

Most poisonous plants are so obnoxious tasting that cattle will not eat it, unless they are starved or deranged. For example the sap of milkweed types is caustic and has a blistering effect on lips and tongue. An old college professor once told me that any critter that will eat those plants is trying to end its suffering and needs to die.

CrashTestRanch · #3 09/29/10, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ksfarmer

An old college professor once told me that any critter that will eat those plants is trying to end its suffering and needs to die.

like eating my ex's cooking?

stanb999 · #4 09/29/10, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ksfarmer

Most poisonous plants are so obnoxious tasting that cattle will not eat it, unless they are starved or deranged. For example the sap of milkweed types is caustic and has a blistering effect on lips and tongue. An old college professor once told me that any critter that will eat those plants is trying to end its suffering and needs to die.

Goats eat milkweed with no ill effects. In fact they killed it off from the pasture for the most part.

So is it as I thought that as long as they have other stuff they will be alright?

ufo_chris · #5 09/30/10, 01:18 AM

Well this is about the wild cherry since I have a lot and did a lot of research on it. If they eat the fresh leaves it's ok ,but if they eat freshly wilted leaves,like a branch or whole tree down , they will die. Dried up old leaves are ok too.
And they do like the taste and will eat them.
I have deceided to wait till winter to turn mine out in the woods because there are so many cherry trees and it's too hard to check in the still dense woods.
Chris

Ronney · #6 09/30/10, 06:14 AM

Stan, I don't know that we have Wild Cherry or perhaps we do but know it by a different name, nor am I sure about the Ground Ivy.

However, we do have Hawthorn, Milkweed, many variety of thistle, as well as ragwort, foxglove, privet, pennyroyal etc. The cattle do not touch the hawthorn, ragwort, foxglove and pennyroyal but will pick around in the milkweed. They disregard thistles with the exception of califorian thistle after it has been chipped and started to wilt - and then they love it but it is not toxic to them. Just be aware that some plants, such as ragwort, become palatable after having been sprayed or chipped and in the wilt stage, and it is then that they become toxic.

However, most toxicity problems arise with cattle when they have been pushed too hard for feed and start eating things they would normally leave alone so ensure you cattle always have plenty of good feed.

Cheers,
Ronnie

stanb999 · #7 09/30/10, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronney

However, most toxicity problems arise with cattle when they have been pushed too hard for feed and start eating things they would normally leave alone so ensure you cattle always have plenty of good feed.

Cheers,
Ronnie

Thanks for that.

It is as I had suspected.

ufo_chris · #8 09/30/10, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stanb999

thanks for that.

It is as i had suspected.

except for wild cherry! They like it!!!