Buttercups in hay

[charmaine]

My fields are about to be cut for hay and they have quite a bit of butterup in them this year. Are large amounts in hay safe for horses?

 

[The_snoopster]

I was told that buttercups are harmless when dead and dried in hay, unlike ragwort which is more dangerous as horses will eat rag when dead and dried but will avoid it when growing in the field.
But I am sure someone on here will be able to clarify wether I am wrong in believing this.

 

[poodle20]

I also have been told that buttercups are harmless once they are cut and dead. I was also told that it is only the yellow flower that is posionous. Our farmer has just cut his hay and there were buttercups in the field also.

 

[LauraWheeler]

Yes buttercups are fine when cut and dead. Ragwort is not. Horses are more likely to eat it when it is dead as it looses it's bitter taste. A friends horse died of ragwort poisoning as she had bought some hay in and it must have had ragwort in it She had to burn all the hay and call the supplyer.