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Toxic Plants for Goats #866201

Asked April 28, 2024, 6:54 PM EDT

We brought home three mini Nubians a couple of weeks ago and they are ready to go out in the big-girl pasture. I did a pasture walk and pulled up some plants that could have been toxic. The internet is so confusing .....one page will say a plant is excellent for livestock and another will say it's potentially toxic. There are three remaining that I have a fair amount of and they would be difficult to eliminate. I think they are fine, but in all cases, at least one person/page says they may be toxic "in large quantities" (not sure what large quantities are). They are Common Sorrel, Sticky Mouse Eared Chickweed (Cerastium Glomeratum) and Meadow Foxtail (Alopecurus Pratensis). At least that is what Google Lens says they are. I attached pictures of two--the Foxtail wouldn't upload. Do you know if these can be harmful to goats? Thanks so much for your help.

Clackamas County Oregon

Expert Response

Here is the third photo that I could not upload of what i think is Meadow Foxtail. 

The Question Asker Replied May 02, 2024, 11:29 AM EDT
Sorrel: Sorrel is a fairly common weed in pastures and so long as there is plenty of other forage available, I would not worry about toxicity issues. Reports of livestock toxicity from consuming sorrel are not common.

Many common weeds appear on lists of toxic plants but as is true with much toxicology "the dose makes the poison." Turning hungry animals, unaccustomed to eating sorrel, into a paddock primarily containing sorrel might cause an issue, but a few plants scattered in an otherwise productive pasture won't be an problem.

Oxalate, the compound of concern in sorrel, is also found in high concentrations in spinach, Swiss chard, parsley, and other commonly-eaten foods. Issues do not arise for humans eating these foods so long as they make up a minor part of an otherwise balanced diet. Same holds for livestock.

 I've attached a guide with more details on sorrel. https://wric.ucdavis.edu/information/natural%20areas/wr_R/Rumex_acetosella.pdf 

Chickweed: I found information on palatability of common chickweed: 
Common chickweed has a mild flavor that makes it palatable as a salad herb. It is nutritious fodder for cows, sheep, horses, pigs and chickens, but it may contain toxic levels of nitrate when grown on nitrogen rich soils.

More information can be found here:
https://horticulture.oregonstate.edu/weed/mouseear-chickweed
 https://www.sare.org/publications/manage-weeds-on-your-farm/common-chickweed/#chickweed-ecology

Foxtail: Be sure to get the correct identification on this, Illinois Extension has a video to help with this. 
Has sharp, barbed seed heads that can become lodged in animals' mouths, throats, or digestive tracts, causing irritation. I would look through this publication to confirm your identification: https://www.sare.org/publications/manage-weeds-on-your-farm/foxtails/

These two publications have information on managing foxtail in pastures. 
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/crop-production/pastures-forages/foxtail-control-pastures-hayground
This one from University of California talks about goats being used to manage foxtail. 
https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=25578
An Ask Extension Expert Replied May 02, 2024, 6:43 PM EDT
Thank you so much. I will look over those links tonight. I read the same thing about Foxtails' "sharp, barbed seeds," and this does not seem sharp. Thanks again!
On Thu, May 2, 2024 at 3:43 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied May 02, 2024, 6:49 PM EDT

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