Many of Montana’s state-listed noxious weeds are toxic to livestock. With recent Facebook posts surrounding toxic plants to horses, including hoary alyssum and false dandelion (aka Catsear and NOT on the state weed list), we are finding a great interest in this topic.
Recently Kellieann Fillingham, Ravalli County Weed Coordinator, shared several publications that were produced by her program many years ago and they are very informative. Here is an important excerpt from one of the horse document:
“Prevention is the best medicine. Ensure that your horses have adequate hay and/or healthy pasture to graze. Provide adequate water and avoid overgrazing.
Most poisonous plants have an unpleasant taste that animals avoid if they have anything else to eat. However, if they have no choice but to eat these plants, they might develop a taste for them. Herbicides may increase the palatability of plants due to salts that may be in some herbicides. Be cautious when grazing animals after herbicide applications. Follow the label and any listed grazing restrictions. Avoid grazing treated areas until plants have dried. You should wait until dead plants are disposed of before introducing animals to the site.
Watch for unusual behavior in your animals. If you suspect a poisoning, consult a veterinarian as soon as possible. Be sure to collect samples of the plants you suspect caused the poisoning for positive identification.”
Thank you to Ravalli County Weed District for sharing these informative publications.
