The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: Tricky Trev on January 11, 2012, 08:32:36 pm

Title: Is it poisonous?
Post by: Tricky Trev on January 11, 2012, 08:32:36 pm
Hi   :)
I am moving my 2 osb's on to a different part of my land which has a lot off convolvulus bindweed on it.  Does anyone know if this will be safe for the pigs as my mate says the bindweed is poisonous.  I would be grateful for any advice on this.
Thanks
Tricky
Title: Re: Is it poisonous?
Post by: Fowgill Farm on January 12, 2012, 09:25:55 am
We have this too and though i don't think it will bother the pigs, i personally pull it out or burn off as pigs root it into small bits which root and make more bindweed which is how you get infested with it, best off use a selective weedkiller(the kind that doesn't kill grass eg Grazon 90) and keep animals off for 7 - 10days. It a b*gg*er to get rid of.
HTH
mandy  :pig:
Title: Re: Is it poisonous?
Post by: Berkshire Boy on January 12, 2012, 09:56:14 am
Animals know what is poisonous and as long as they have plenty to eat you shouldn't have any problems.
As Mandy says they will help to spread it so a quick spray may not be a bad idea. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Is it poisonous?
Post by: oaklandspigs on January 12, 2012, 01:18:30 pm
I have nothing in my notes about bindweed and pigs, but they are pretty clever, adn suspect that they will either dig it up and leave it, as it harms them , or eat it 'cos it doesn't. 

However as per FF and BB if they dig it up and break it into a zillion pieces and leave it, each one will grow, so you may actually make the problem worse

Title: Re: Is it poisonous?
Post by: Tricky Trev on January 12, 2012, 08:17:55 pm
Thank you all for the info, we zapped the bindweed last year with round up, it slowed it down but didn't really get rid of it. I will let the pigs have a go, I am going to put early potatoes in afterwards so hope they do a good job, will let you no how they go on.   : :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Is it poisonous?
Post by: robert waddell on January 13, 2012, 09:06:22 am
to early in the morning for you Lillian        a big difference betwean bindweed and ragwort      it is ragwort that she is referring to     just keep taking your medication you will feel better :farmer:
Title: Re: Is it poisonous?
Post by: Mr Pig on January 14, 2012, 09:31:33 am
According to one book I have - Diseases of Pigs by D J Anthony MRCVS - Convolvulus (bindweed) is poisonous - "Animals eating this plant display loss of appetite, attempts at vomition, great dullness and death."
Title: Re: Is it poisonous?
Post by: oaklandspigs on January 14, 2012, 07:16:50 pm
Love the phrase "great dullness" - very Dickension !

Whether pigs actually eat it, or just dig it up he doesn't say!

Several sites mention it (when I googled)

eg

http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/organicweeds/weed_information/weed.php?id=71 (http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/organicweeds/weed_information/weed.php?id=71) says
"Sheep and cattle eat the foliage and pigs and chickens may unearth and consume the underground stems and fleshy roots. "
http://www.greenplantprotection.eu/weeds/field_crops/pulses/field_bindweed (http://www.greenplantprotection.eu/weeds/field_crops/pulses/field_bindweed) says
Sheep and cattle are willing to eat the leaves of field bindweed, however pigs and chickens like to unearth and consume the fleshy roots and underground stems.
Both these seems to be quoting the "Ecology and Management of field bindweed" by a man in montana and published by United States Department of Agriculture
http://www.msuextension.org/ruralliving/Dream/PDF/Weed/bindweed.pdf (http://www.msuextension.org/ruralliving/Dream/PDF/Weed/bindweed.pdf) which says
"Grazing and Mowing. Cattle, sheep and goats will graze on field bindweed leaves and stems. Hogs and chickens eat leaves, stems, exposed roots and rhizomes, and crowns."

or the latter may be copying the former - with the internet you never know !!!  Maybe american animals are immune to it, ot it is a different plant in America.  Who knows?  :)