The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: HelenVF on June 13, 2013, 08:40:41 pm
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Are buttercups poisonous? just watching springwatch and it said they are toxic.
Everywhere around us has buttercups, and we had loads last year. Last week, I noticed our pygmy goat eating one so realised that he had kept them down. Now am starting to worry!
Helen
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There are buttercups everywhere all down the dale, and all the sheep/goats/cattle are eating them.
Ellie has them sticking out of the side of her mouth on purpose, to be picturesque ;)
I can't think that they can be that poisonous.
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They are toxic to horses but not that bad
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2 of our kids that have been bottled from day 1 head for buttercups every time we take them for a walk down the drive, not sure if its just the colour or what but they do eat them.
the older goats never touch them
When we had 2 Pygmys they used to tuck into them every time they where out and it never did them any harm
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There are buttercups everywhere all down the dale, and all the sheep/goats/cattle are eating them.
Ellie has them sticking out of the side of her mouth on purpose, to be picturesque ;)
I can't think that they can be that poisonous.
That's what thought as the sheep are definitely grazing them. btw, you can't be too far from me as am in North Lancashire
They are toxic to horses but not that bad
Thanks. Dusty doesn't eat them as we did comment that we had loads last year.
Helen
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2 of our kids that have been bottled from day 1 head for buttercups every time we take them for a walk down the drive, not sure if its just the colour or what but they do eat them.
the older goats never touch them
When we had 2 Pygmys they used to tuck into them every time they where out and it never did them any harm
Thanks! can stop worrying now lol!
Helen
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My first goat wouldn't touch them so I didn't bother with these two. think I'll give it a try as I have a lot in the garden that I would like to be rid of.
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There was a lot of buttercups in my paddock so I had it sprayed last week with a chemical which only killed them and nettles and sprinked grass seed over the areas which died back. Hopefully that will sort the problem as the goats didnt seem to eat them and they were taking over.
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buttercups grow on acidic soil so the land needs liming. they are poisonous in large amounts. we never had a problem tho but have noticed the dont tend to get eaten.
QUOTE
Buttercups contain an acrid, volatile alkaloid-amenenol, strong
enough to blister the skin and cause inflammation of the intestinal
tract. Cattle and goats poisoned by buttercups produce bitter milk and
a reddish color. The toxic material volatilizes and is lost when
buttercups are dried as in hay.
A heavy growth of buttercup is an indication of low soil fertility.
Have the soil analyzed and apply ground lime and fertilizers as their
need is shown. The increased grass growth soon crowds out buttercups.
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My goats don't eat them in the field, but if they are part of the cut grass they get, all will be eaten... so I think they are not as tasty and if there is other stuff available they will not eat masses of them....
We are planning to lime our fields this autumn/winter, as we have noticed an increase of butter cups in some areas.
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There seem to be alot more this year, maybe a result of last years wet.
If they were a problem I'm sure the local farmers would have zapped them by now or there'd be alot of dead sheep and cattle around.
Haven't noticed any odd tastes in the goats milk either.
In last weeks dry weather my boots were yellow with pollen walking across to feed the pigs. The bees are certainly enjoying them.
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Thanks all. We are on the edge of a moor so imagine the soil is acidic?
Helen
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Thanks for tip re lime. Will look into it :wave:
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That is really useful Shygirl - thank you. Ours ignore the buttercups, as do the sheep. I've cut a load of hay this year so much of that will be dried buttercup and not toxic as dried, phew.
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unless its my imagination - there is an abundance of buttercups everywhere where we are at moment (even the real farmers fields - who are usually immaculate). add that to the rape - the world is very yellow.
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There is here too - I noticed just prior to our holiday that our sheep field and the gravel ramp leading to it were "all yellow" (cue...song of same name ;) )
Coldplay - Yellow (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MwjX4dG72s#ws)
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We have a lot here too this year and I did think about spreading lime but we also have a lot of clover and I am sure that I read somewhere that liming kills clover :-\
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Spraying buttercups to kill them does kill clover too, but not grass. My sisters field is really bad with buttercups. We have them, but not too bad and we lime every year to keep them back.
Beth
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We have a lot here too this year and I did think about spreading lime but we also have a lot of clover and I am sure that I read somewhere that liming kills clover :-\
My goats won't eat the white clover!
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We have a lot here too this year and I did think about spreading lime but we also have a lot of clover and I am sure that I read somewhere that liming kills clover :-\
My goats won't eat the white clover!
Don't know if mine eat it but the sheep do :sheep:
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Don't know if mine eat it but the sheep do :sheep:
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yes, iv realised that i seem to have alot more buttercups as i sold my sheep last year...duh. you dont realise what they do til they are gone.
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I had a good luck at my paddock and we have a lot of clover as well.
Helen