plants that poison livestock nola wilson, small farm extension agent marion county extension service
TRANSCRIPT
Plants that Poison Plants that Poison LivestockLivestock
Nola Wilson, Small Farm Extension AgentNola Wilson, Small Farm Extension Agent
Marion County Extension ServiceMarion County Extension Service
Why livestock may eat Why livestock may eat poisonous plantspoisonous plants
StarvationStarvation
Deficient rationsDeficient rations
OvergrazingOvergrazing
Waste and trashWaste and trash
Hay infestationHay infestation
Newly plowed Newly plowed areasareas
Dry/partially dry Dry/partially dry water holeswater holes
Incidental/curiosityIncidental/curiosity
unknownunknown
Protecting your Protecting your animals animals
from poisoningfrom poisoning Learn to identify poisonous plantsLearn to identify poisonous plants Develop a grazing plan to Develop a grazing plan to
improve your pasturesimprove your pastures Do not overgrazeDo not overgraze Provide adequate water Provide adequate water Be careful when grazing newly Be careful when grazing newly
introduced livestock from another introduced livestock from another statestate
Cont’Cont’
Provide adequate salt and other Provide adequate salt and other supplements as neededsupplements as needed
Control poisonous plantsControl poisonous plants do not allow hungry animals to do not allow hungry animals to
graze in areas that may have graze in areas that may have poisonous plantspoisonous plants
Inspect hay for toxic plantsInspect hay for toxic plants Maintain fence rowsMaintain fence rows
Poisonous plantsPoisonous plants
AzaleasAzaleas BoxwoodBoxwood bagpodbagpod BitterweedBitterweed Bracken FernBracken Fern ButtercupButtercup ChinaberryChinaberry
Coffee senna and Coffee senna and sicklepodsicklepod
Common oleanderCommon oleander Castor-beanCastor-bean Common Common
nightshadenightshade Carolina laurel-Carolina laurel-
cherry/black cherry/black cherry/choke cherrycherry/choke cherry
Poisonous plants cont’Poisonous plants cont’
CockleburCocklebur Carolina-jessamineCarolina-jessamine Common lantanaCommon lantana Horse nettle Horse nettle Hairy vetchHairy vetch Johnson grassJohnson grass JimsonweedJimsonweed MustardMustard
LambsquarterLambsquarter Pokeweed,pokeberrPokeweed,pokeberr
yy Purple rattleboxPurple rattlebox Showy crotalariaShowy crotalaria White snakerootWhite snakeroot Water hemlock, Water hemlock,
poison hemlockpoison hemlock
Cont’Cont’
PigweedPigweed Mexican poppyMexican poppy MilkweedMilkweed St. John’s WortSt. John’s Wort
Principle toxic Principle toxic compoundscompounds
Cyanide or Cyanide or prussic acidprussic acid
Neuro toxic or Neuro toxic or myotoxic plantsmyotoxic plants
Gastrointenstinal Gastrointenstinal irritants & toxinsirritants & toxins
Photosensitizing Photosensitizing plantsplants
Nitrate-Nitrate-accumulating accumulating plantsplants
Oxalate-Oxalate-containing plantscontaining plants
Cardia glycoside Cardia glycoside containing plantscontaining plants
AzaleaAzalea
Effects: cattle, goats, Effects: cattle, goats,
sheep, llamassheep, llamas Toxicity: leaves and Toxicity: leaves and
flower nectarflower nectar Symptoms: Ruminants Symptoms: Ruminants
bloatbloat
BoxwoodBoxwood
Effects: horses & Effects: horses & pigspigs
Toxicity: all partsToxicity: all parts Symptoms: Symptoms:
emetic & emetic & purgative actionpurgative action
Bagpod/bladderpodBagpod/bladderpod
Effects: chickens, hogs, goats, Effects: chickens, hogs, goats, sheep & cattlesheep & cattle
Toxicity: young green seeds are Toxicity: young green seeds are more toxic than mature seedsmore toxic than mature seeds
Symptoms: comb dark and Symptoms: comb dark and congested, constipation in cattle, congested, constipation in cattle, sheep rapid respirationsheep rapid respiration
Bitterweed/bitter Bitterweed/bitter sneezeweedsneezeweed
Effects: horses, mules, cattle, Effects: horses, mules, cattle, sheepsheep
Toxicity: all parts, retains toxicity Toxicity: all parts, retains toxicity after dryingafter drying
Symptoms: weakness, bloating, Symptoms: weakness, bloating, staggering, spasms, irritant to staggering, spasms, irritant to mucous membranesmucous membranes
Bracken FernBracken Fern
Effects: cattle, horses, sheep & Effects: cattle, horses, sheep & chickenschickens
Toxicity: fronds & rhizomesToxicity: fronds & rhizomes Symptoms: high temp. stand with Symptoms: high temp. stand with
head down and drool, unsteady head down and drool, unsteady gait, drowsy, sheep have shown gait, drowsy, sheep have shown blindnessblindness
Causes thiamin deficiencyCauses thiamin deficiency
ButtercupButtercup
Effects: Cattle and horses, pigsEffects: Cattle and horses, pigs Toxicity: stems and leaves of the Toxicity: stems and leaves of the
flowering plant flowering plant Symptoms: Gastrointestinal Symptoms: Gastrointestinal
effectseffects
ChinaberryChinaberry
Effects: hogs & sheepEffects: hogs & sheep Toxicity: all parts; berries most Toxicity: all parts; berries most
toxictoxic Symptoms: loss of appetite, Symptoms: loss of appetite,
stiffness, general weakness, stiffness, general weakness, death w/in 24hrsdeath w/in 24hrs
CrotalariaCrotalaria
Effects: all livestock including Effects: all livestock including chickens, quails and turkeyschickens, quails and turkeys
Toxicity: all parts; especially Toxicity: all parts; especially seedsseeds
Symptoms: uncoordinated, head Symptoms: uncoordinated, head press against objects, bloody press against objects, bloody feces, pale comb, ruffled feathersfeces, pale comb, ruffled feathers
Coffee senna & sickle Coffee senna & sickle podpod Effects: all livestock, primarily Effects: all livestock, primarily
cattlecattle Toxicity: seeds predominantly, Toxicity: seeds predominantly,
leaves, stemsleaves, stems Symptoms: diarrhea, lethargic, go Symptoms: diarrhea, lethargic, go
off feedoff feed
Common oleanderCommon oleander
Effects: livestock Effects: livestock & humans& humans
Toxicity: all Toxicity: all parts;15-20 grams parts;15-20 grams will kill mature will kill mature cattle or horsecattle or horse
Symptoms: weak, Symptoms: weak, rapid pulse, rapid pulse, profuse sweatingprofuse sweating
Castor-beanCastor-bean
Effects: all Effects: all livestock, mostly livestock, mostly horseshorses
Toxicity: all parts; Toxicity: all parts; especially the especially the beansbeans
Symptoms: pigs Symptoms: pigs nausea, violent nausea, violent purgation, horses purgation, horses trembling, trembling, sweatingsweating
Common nightshadeCommon nightshade
Effects: livestock & chickensEffects: livestock & chickens Toxicity: leaves & immature Toxicity: leaves & immature
berriesberries Symptoms: weakness, dilated Symptoms: weakness, dilated
pupils, paralysis, gastrointestinal pupils, paralysis, gastrointestinal problemsproblems
Choke Cherry Choke Cherry tree/Carolina laurel-tree/Carolina laurel-cherry/black cherrycherry/black cherry Effects: sheep, goats, cattle and Effects: sheep, goats, cattle and
especially horsesespecially horses Toxicity: leaves, esp. wiltedToxicity: leaves, esp. wilted Symptoms: anxiety, staggering, Symptoms: anxiety, staggering,
breathing problems, bloat, limit breathing problems, bloat, limit oxygen, deathoxygen, death
CockleburCocklebur
Effects: swine most common, Effects: swine most common, cattle, sheep, and poultrycattle, sheep, and poultry
Toxicity: seeds and seedlings Toxicity: seeds and seedlings most toxicmost toxic
Symptoms: gastrointestinal Symptoms: gastrointestinal irritation, weakness, deathirritation, weakness, death
Carolina/yellow-Carolina/yellow-jessaminejessamine
Effects: cattle, sheep, goats, Effects: cattle, sheep, goats, swine and horsesswine and horses
Toxicity: flowers, roots & leavesToxicity: flowers, roots & leaves Symptoms: muscular weakness, Symptoms: muscular weakness,
“goes down”, coma“goes down”, coma
LantanaLantana
Effects: sheep, Effects: sheep, horses, mostly horses, mostly cattlecattle
Toxicity: all Toxicity: all parts; year round parts; year round
Symptoms: Symptoms: photosensitizatiophotosensitization, watery feces n, watery feces
Hairy VetchHairy Vetch
Effects: horses and cattleEffects: horses and cattle Toxicity: seed most toxicToxicity: seed most toxic Symptoms: bellowing, sexual Symptoms: bellowing, sexual
excitement, crawling on ground, excitement, crawling on ground, photosensitizationphotosensitization
Johnson grassJohnson grass
Effects: cattle and horsesEffects: cattle and horses Toxicity: leaves & stems esp. young Toxicity: leaves & stems esp. young
plantsplants Symptoms: breathing problems, Symptoms: breathing problems,
staggering, convulsions staggering, convulsions
JimsonweedJimsonweed
Effects: predominantly cattle; Effects: predominantly cattle; occasionally horses, goats & hogsoccasionally horses, goats & hogs
Toxicity: all parts green or dry ( cows Toxicity: all parts green or dry ( cows poisoned by consuming 10-14 oz)poisoned by consuming 10-14 oz)
Symptoms: dryness of mouth, rapid Symptoms: dryness of mouth, rapid pulse, partial blindness, tremors in pulse, partial blindness, tremors in goat & sheepgoat & sheep
(convulsion twitching of the entire body (convulsion twitching of the entire body is a symptom in hogs)is a symptom in hogs)
MustardMustard
Effects: swine, Effects: swine,
cattle and horsescattle and horses Toxicity: all partsToxicity: all parts
especially the seedsespecially the seeds Symptoms:Symptoms:
severe gastroenteritis, abdominal pain severe gastroenteritis, abdominal pain and diarrheaand diarrhea
Lamb’s Quarters/ Lamb’s Quarters/ PigweedPigweed
Effects: ruminantsEffects: ruminants Toxicity: all partsToxicity: all parts Symptoms: reduce oxygen carrying Symptoms: reduce oxygen carrying
capacity, in-coordination, weakness, capacity, in-coordination, weakness,
Pokeweed/pokeberryPokeweed/pokeberry
Effects: cattle, sheep, horses, Effects: cattle, sheep, horses, hogs, poultryhogs, poultry
Toxicity: all parts; esp. berries & Toxicity: all parts; esp. berries & rootsroots
Symptoms: gastric intestinal Symptoms: gastric intestinal irritation, spasms, colic, pigs irritation, spasms, colic, pigs unsteadiness, jerking movementsunsteadiness, jerking movements
Purple rattleboxPurple rattlebox
Effects: poultry, cattle, sheep and Effects: poultry, cattle, sheep and goatsgoats
Toxicity: primarily seedToxicity: primarily seed Symptoms: rapid pulse, respiration Symptoms: rapid pulse, respiration
weak, irregular and laboredweak, irregular and labored
chickens: ruffled feathers, drooping chickens: ruffled feathers, drooping wingswings
MilkweedsMilkweeds
Effects: cattle, sheep, goats, Effects: cattle, sheep, goats, horses and poultryhorses and poultry
Toxicity: stems, leaves, rootsToxicity: stems, leaves, roots Symptoms: gastrointestinal Symptoms: gastrointestinal
irritation, in coordination, irritation, in coordination, tremors, dilated pupils, tremors, dilated pupils, bloating/colicbloating/colic
Hemp SesbaniaHemp Sesbania
Effects: Effects: cattlecattle Toxicity: seeds most toxicToxicity: seeds most toxic Symptoms: often found dead, Symptoms: often found dead,
constipation, animals walk stiffly constipation, animals walk stiffly with arched backwith arched back
White snakerootWhite snakeroot
Effects: cattle, horses & sheepEffects: cattle, horses & sheep Toxicity: all part green or dryToxicity: all part green or dry Symptoms: muscle trembles Symptoms: muscle trembles
following exercise, weight lossfollowing exercise, weight loss
horses heart failure, legs stand horses heart failure, legs stand far apartfar apart
Water hemlockWater hemlock
Effects: cattle primary species Effects: cattle primary species (cowbane) horses, sheep(cowbane) horses, sheep
Toxicity: all parts, primarily rootsToxicity: all parts, primarily roots Symptoms: convulsions, Symptoms: convulsions,
trembling, frothing at mouthtrembling, frothing at mouth
Note: this plant considered to be Note: this plant considered to be the most toxic, the most toxic,
Poison hemlockPoison hemlock
Effects: livestock including poultryEffects: livestock including poultry Toxicity: whole green plant at Toxicity: whole green plant at
approx 1% of b.w.approx 1% of b.w. Symptoms: gastrointestinal Symptoms: gastrointestinal
irritation, trembles, coldness of irritation, trembles, coldness of extremitiesextremities
Poison hemlock can also cause birth defects in ruminants and swine, with cattle and swine more susceptible than sheep and goats. The most often reported birth defects are cleft palate and spinal abnormalities. The gestational ages that have been associated with birth defects are: for goats, days 30 through 60; for cattle, days 40 through 70; for pigs, days 30 through 60. The birth defects resemble those seen with lupine, with lupine being the more dangerous plant.
Mexican PoppyMexican Poppy
Effects: livestock Effects: livestock
and poultryand poultry Toxicity: all parts Toxicity: all parts
and seedsand seeds Symptoms: edema (dropsy),Symptoms: edema (dropsy),
swelling of wattles and darkening swelling of wattles and darkening of tips in comb, weakness, deathof tips in comb, weakness, death
St. John’s wortSt. John’s wort
Effects: cattle, sheep & horsesEffects: cattle, sheep & horses Toxicity: fresh and dried plantToxicity: fresh and dried plant Symptoms: itching, Symptoms: itching,
photosensitization symptomsphotosensitization symptoms
References:References:
West E. & Emmel M.W. Plants West E. & Emmel M.W. Plants that poison farm animals, that poison farm animals, University of FloridaUniversity of Florida
Perkins K & Payne W. Guide to Perkins K & Payne W. Guide to the poisonous and irritant plants the poisonous and irritant plants of Florida, University of Floridaof Florida, University of Florida
References cont’References cont’
Toxic plant database-Veterinarian Medicine Toxic plant database-Veterinarian Medicine LibraryLibrary
http://www.library.uiuc.edu/vex/toxic/comlist.hthttp://www.library.uiuc.edu/vex/toxic/comlist.htmm
Poisonous plants of the southern United States- Poisonous plants of the southern United States- http://www.caf.wvu.edu/%7Eforage/library/poisohttp://www.caf.wvu.edu/%7Eforage/library/poisonous/content.htmnous/content.htm
University of Pennsylvania poisonous plants University of Pennsylvania poisonous plants homepage- homepage- http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/poison/index.htmlhttp://cal.vet.upenn.edu/poison/index.html
Developed By: Nola Developed By: Nola Wilson, Small Farm Wilson, Small Farm Extension Agent Extension Agent August 2003August 2003Revised 2006Revised 2006
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