That FLIXWEED QUESTION..

[goatlover270]

Yesterday we heard someone posted about that flixweed but a few of us were really asking and concerned about the where abouts this stuff grows....
am wonderin' does flixweed only grow in certain parts of the U.S.??
Can anyone post a picture of what it looks like, just in case it grows in my parts so that us over here will know what to look like as well??

[GrannyCarol]

A quick Google search on "flixweed" turned up this:

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/WEEDS/flixweed.html

You may want to read some of the other urls that come up with that Google search, there were quite a few and it looks like lots of information.

That should be a help to you.

[DocM]

Another name for flixweed (and what we in Oregon/Washington call it) is tansy. It looks like mustard. It grows pretty much everywhere on the west coast, don't know where else. I have it in my pastures but my animals don't eat it. Normally, animals won't eat it unless it's been cured in hay or if they're just plain starving. The results can be devastating.

[goatlover270]

thanks carol, appreciate that. I was wondering about that since I haven't been able to ask the ag. ext around here if we have to worry about that in our area. It looks like from reading the article, it grows in ca. area.

[Jcran]

What I've found out the past few years is that it is becoming an invasive weed in alfalfa fields. First cuttings would obviously have the worst infestation so 2nd and 3rd cuttings would have less. In addition, organic fields or grass/alfalfa that wasn't sprayed could stand to have it as well. We also get "stock hay" which are the bales that come from the periphery of fields where there might be other grasses/weeds including flixweed in the mix. I believe the culprit is a gluco or glycoisinolate which acts to impair the goat's ability to metabolize iodine. I've got the photos of the buck kid that was born on Friday loaded onto my Mac but can't figure out how to share it. I hate to be alarmist and realistically it's probably not that prevalent. But it pays to know about. I do think(not sure why-fact eludes me) it is more of a problem in the western United States. The name of the range specialist is Dr. Anthony Knight or Dr. Anthony McKnight from Utah (but doing research in Colorado-or the other way around) I initially read some of his articles on the IVIS website.

[fishhead]

Does it destroy the thyroid?

[Jcran]

I am not a vet but my friend has had an odd doe or two since the flixweed disaster of '04 kid with what we now call "flixweed babies". This one was the worst I ever saw and it's three years later. Flixweed is also called FALSE TANSY. I am guessing it CAN cause lifelong thyroid problems in does. But as I said on another post, it seems fickle. Some kids in multiple births that year seemed almost/totally normal while siblings from same kidding were blobs or goitered. Weird stuff. Worth knowing about.

[jen74145]

Oh, wow.
I companion garden, and tansy has been recommended to me time and time again as a great beneficial plant for my garden; I NEVER would have known about it's dangers without this forum, and my girl may very well have browsed on it/had it brought to her had I planted it.
Major, big time thank you.

[Sher]

I read that the brassica grass/hay is also a "leacher of iodine". I don't know how many feed that here..but something to keep in mind. IF I was feeding it..I would be supplementing iodine in some shape or form. The trouble with this one is..it doesn't make them sick quick..it just gradually helps to deplete the iodine.

Has anyone else read this?

[Jcran]

Jen,
Flixweed is FALSE TANSY so I am not sure if regular TANSY is as bad.

[desertoasisfarm]

So, then if we cannot eliminate the possibility of this weed in our feed source..is the recommendation to supplement xtra iodine? How much and how is that done? I have real concerns about this area as alfalfa is pretty crummy around here anyway, no matter where they ship it in from. And I would suppose the commercial feeds (alfalfa pellets) would have the same issues?

[Jcran]

I wish I knew; I actually emailed Dr. Knight and begged his patience in answering this layman's question: Is there a protocol established for supplementing iodine in does who've had thyroids damaged by flixweed. It sure seems like year-to-year hitormiss for some of these animals. Bad year was the initial exposure, then two normal years, then a baby like this one? Holy buckets, that could spell some real ongoing disasters for a breeding herd. If I hear back from him, I will post his response to the group. I've got two "flixweed babies" from my neighbor's herd, Gladys and Lotte, who have had normal babies as first fresheners. Both are due again in mid March. Both are also the grain gorgers from yesterday's emergency post. I drenched with b-soda and pepto and neither bloated or acted sick.