The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: Mel on October 17, 2012, 08:46:14 am

Title: Anyone know what this is and is it poisinous to goats?
Post by: Mel on October 17, 2012, 08:46:14 am

Hiya,
Just thought I would ask here,Penninehillbilly wrote a post link below,I have gone through everything I know and just cannot identify the tree,help appreciated to make sure their goats are not harmed please!

http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/forum/index.php?topic=28389.msg282394#new (http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/forum/index.php?topic=28389.msg282394#new)

Title: Re: Anyone know what this is and is it poisinous to goats?
Post by: goosepimple on October 17, 2012, 10:29:40 am

I looked in 2 books, 1 is on poisonous plants in particular - all of the plants with red berries in the books have distinctive leaves quite different from those in your photo - the only one which is most like it (my photo is limited in the book) is Woody Nightshade which is a sprawling plant - best you google it for pics and all the facts on Wikipedia, this is not as deadly as the Deadly Nightshade with the black berries but it can still  make your animals sick and if they eat a lot of it, then they could possibly be poisoned.  Hope that helps.

Title: Re: Anyone know what this is and is it poisinous to goats?
Post by: ddangus on October 17, 2012, 12:21:01 pm

Pretty sure it is alder buckthorn ( Rhamnus frangula). The fruit (berries) will turn black when ripe.

There is also buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) but this looks slightly different and has glossy leaves. The buckthorns are not an evergreen so the leaves should turn yellow this autumn.
It is poisonous to livestock  if eaten in large quantities so better keep the goats away from it. Most references of it being poisonous refer to the fruit rather than the leaves /twigs but better not to take any risks.


See information on website below.
http://www.goatworld.com/health/plants/alderbuckthorn.shtml (http://www.goatworld.com/health/plants/alderbuckthorn.shtml)

However this plant does not feature in any lists of plant that commonly poison goats so the overal risk is probably low.

Regards,

dd

Title: Re: Anyone know what this is and is it poisinous to goats?
Post by: Anke on October 17, 2012, 02:30:59 pm

I thought the leaves looked like alder  :-\ , but the berries obviously not.

Title: Re: Anyone know what this is and is it poisinous to goats?
Post by: colliewoman on October 17, 2012, 02:34:32 pm

I agree with ddangus
http://www.british-trees.com/treeguide/buckthorns/Alder+buckthorn (http://www.british-trees.com/treeguide/buckthorns/Alder+buckthorn)

Title: Re: Anyone know what this is and is it poisinous to goats?
Post by: goosepimple on October 17, 2012, 08:35:58 pm

Just looked that one up too but the pic in my book isn't so like your pic Mel - the book's is a bit more woody looking, not so spindly - but then it's difficult to tell I expect.  There's no point in taking even the smallest risk though I suppose.

Title: Re: Anyone know what this is and is it poisinous to goats?
Post by: Penninehillbilly on October 18, 2012, 11:48:27 am

Thanks Mel and all, yes - 'googled' alder buckthorn and pretty sure thats it, no black berries, but maybe not mature yet, or too cold here to ripen? anyway if there is a chance of poison it comes out.
Thanks again, good to know what direction to take.

Title: Re: Anyone know what this is and is it poisinous to goats?
Post by: ddangus on October 18, 2012, 12:09:15 pm

The appearance will obviously differ with the age of plants and especially drawn illustrations of plants are not always that representative ( depending on the level of artisitc freedom).
A good selection of pictures can be found in the link below.

http://www.countrysideinfo.co.uk/tree_gallery/alder_buckthrn/alder_buckthorn.html (http://www.countrysideinfo.co.uk/tree_gallery/alder_buckthrn/alder_buckthorn.html)

DD