Poisonous plants that can kill cattlePoisonous plants that can kill cattle

Monitor your pastures as they green up; toxic plants may be lurking. Here's a rundown with photos of what you should be looking for.

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It’s been said that all that glitters is not gold. Transfer that thought to your pastures, and all that is green isn’t good — especially for your cattle.

Indeed, there are many plants that can cause illness, death, abortion, birth defects, metabolic disorders, photosensitization and other problems in cattle. The USDA estimates average loss from poisonings between 3% and 5%, but this does not include expenses involved in trying to prevent animals from being poisoned, or treat poisoned ones.

Here’s a rundown of poisonous plants to watch for in your pastures.

About the Author

Heather Smith Thomas

Heather Smith Thomas and her husband Lynn have a cattle ranch in Idaho where they raise beef cattle and have a few horses.  She has written more than 14,000 stories and articles (mostly for livestock and horse publications) and published 24 books, including Storey’s Guide to Raising Beef Cattle, Storey’s Guide to raising Horses, Storey’s Guide, Essential Guide to Calving, the Cattle Health Handbook, and Beyond the Flames—A Family Touched by Fire (telling of their daughter’s severe burn injuries and survival, and how it affected the family).  

She has also written several books about experiences on the ranch (Horse Tales: True Stories from an Idaho Ranch; Cow Tales: More True Stories from an Idaho Ranch; and Ranch Tales: Stories of Dogs, Cats and Other Crazy Critters) and a new book called Raising Cattle on Your Homestead Farm.

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