Consequently the diagnosis of fatal poisoning becomes almost impossible as buttercups will nearly always be found in the ingesta of animals grazing on a
All animals are susceptible to buttercup poisoning, but cows are most often poisoned Dried buttercups are not poisonous, however, and buttercup-infested hay
Toxicity varies with species, age, and habitat, but in general, the leaves and stems of flower- ing plants have the highest concentration Poisoning is uncom-
The beauty of the buttercup masks the spread of a very undesirable weed Toxicity: Buttercups are poisonous to livestock if consumed However, they are
Ranunculus acris (Aka Tall Crowfoot, Meadow Buttercup, Blister Plant, Field Buttercup) Overview: protoanemonin that is toxic to livestock (es-
The sap of creeping buttercup contains a toxic compound that can taint milk or cause cattle to become ill Most often, livestock will try to avoid eating
Toxicity: Buttercups are problematic in pastures The buttercup family includes several toxic plants This family also contains the larkspur and staggerweed (
Tall buttercup (Ranunculus acris) is an exotic perennial forb that can be weedy in pungent taste of tall buttercup foliage caused by a toxic
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A Plague of Buttercups
The beauty of the buttercup masks the spread of a very undesirable weed.
BY ANTHONY O'CONNOR
This year, on every farm buttercups are all over the place. Although colourful; to farmers they are like a plague from the Bible. The woeful wet weather of the last few years with resultant problems such as poaching, soil compaction and damaged ground have left grass swards open to invasion by this aggressive weed species, with an ever increasing number present in pastures. Buttercup growth:Buttercups are a perennial weed mainly found in grazing swards. Buttercup weeds thrive in wet soils and can be found mainly in low lying areas of fields. Once established, this weed has the potential to produce a large number of seed and spread aggressively (along the ground by rooting runners). These aggressive weeds can replace grass plants, restrict grass growth and compete for nutrients present in the soil. This can result in a dramatic reduction in grass yield. Control of the weed is very difficult: This is mainly due to the fact that most buttercup plants emerge from seed in the autumn or late winter. However, farmers generally do not take corrective action until after the flower appears. At this stage, the new seeds have already been produced and the introduction of control measures is often too late. This is one of the main reasons why buttercups survive from year to year and new plants emerge annually. Toxicity: Buttercups are poisonous to livestock if consumed. However, they are rarely eaten by farm animals if other forage is available. The main signs of poisoning are oral or gastrointestinal irritation. If harvested in hay or silage, buttercups pose no threat as the drying process eliminates the toxic agent and in general their presence in heavy crops would be very low. Caution is urged if spraying. The decaying buttercup foliage may become palatable to grazing livestock. Follow herbicide manufacturer's guidelines on grazing restrictions. The recommendation is that grazing animals be kept out of sprayed area until the dying buttercup foliage has completely decayed. Control:The best control of all is good grassland management. Maintaining a dense, leafy grass sward will smother out emerging buttercups. In this regard, having a fertile soil with adequate levels of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium along with a suitable pH for grass growth is vital. Avoid any overgrazing or poaching of grazing ground. A heavy infestation of buttercups will require chemical control. A wide variety of chemical herbicides is available to control this weed bear in mind the following points: The best time to spray buttercups is in the early spring (February to April), before it flowers and the plant is small and actively growing. Spraying after flowering may require greater amounts of herbicides and will not prevent seed formation. Effective control can be achieved with herbicide combinations containing MCPA, 2,4-D (e.g. Mortox 50/MCPA 50/Croplink 50). Seedling white clover and red clover in pasture will be killed by these herbicide products. For example, MCPA will check white clover and kill red clover. Spraying at the correct time can achieve up to 80 to 100% control of buttercups. Consult the herbicide label for guidelines on grazing restrictions, precautions and other limitations. A top dressing of fertiliser ten days in advance of spraying is recommended to help sward recover after spraying.
July 2013