The Ragwort Debate

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Greg
Posts: 1508
Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2014 11:10 am
Location: Davenham Nr Northwich

The Ragwort Debate

Post by Greg »

The Ragwort Debate:

Morning All,

Following on from my recent post concerning the eradication of Ragwort near and around grazing livestock. I had a very interesting chat with a Vet who primarily treats livestock. As we were both volunteering at Fenn's and Whixall on Thursday and our task for the day was pulling Ragwort in fields where animals graze or which were to be mown for hay, the subject of the dangers of Ragwort was discussed. He told me that over the 30 odd years he had been a vet he had found no evidence of any animal being directly poisoned by the plant. However, he did admit that the plant contained toxins and if digested in decent quantities could result in serious consequences. He did stress though that decent quantities needed to be digested.

He also pointed out that a far more lethal plant, bush or tree, the YEW, is more dangerous to domestic animals
if digested either directly from the plant or from clippings. The powerful toxins apparently effect the heart and could result in death within a few short hours. It is necessary to warn anyone who owns Horses,Cattle, Sheep, etc. of the dangers and if they graze their animals next to gardens or allotments to allow a good margin using an electric fence of 2 or 3 metres from the original fence-line as some people tip their garden waste over fences into fields and there could be Yew clippings amongst them.

As a landscape gardener myself I must admit that I was not aware of the potential dangers of Yews to livestock, even though I dispose of all my waste in bins or at the local tip I will be more vigilant in future.

Greg

Last edited by Greg on Sat Jul 21, 2018 3:55 pm, edited 2 times in total.
SteveH
Posts: 2072
Joined: Thu Jul 31, 2008 9:50 am
Location: Elton, Cheshire

Re: The Ragwort Debate

Post by SteveH »

Nice one Greg.

I was leading a group around Gowy Meadows to-day and seeing so many islands of ragwort also raised the topic again. The ground immediately around every single plant was like a billiard table then ragwort 'tepuis' everywhere.

Interesting about Yew - I'd no idea at all it was so bad.

Cheers,
Steve

CliveJ
Posts: 210
Joined: Mon May 16, 2016 4:02 pm

Re: The Ragwort Debate

Post by CliveJ »

For comprehensive coverage of British poisonous plants see "British Poisonous Plants" (Forsyth HMSO) and "Poisonous Plants and Fungi in Colour" (Pamela North Blandford). Both inexpensive on Amazon or Abebooks.

Regards,
Clive

mikew
Posts: 168
Joined: Sun Apr 08, 2018 1:32 pm
Location: Burwardsley, CH3

Re: The Ragwort Debate

Post by mikew »

There are web-sites listing plants which are poisonous to horses etc.

We always check as we burn our clippings, prunings, weeds, etc., if possible, in the field at the back of the garden where the farmer keeps his horses. He has been pulling the Ragwort for years but it keeps coming. The horses steer clear of it.

Regards,
Mike

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