ragwort in haylage and pitch fork in foot.. pls read :(

[5horses2dogsandacat]

Really upset, found my bale of haylage riddles with ragwort.. I've been keeping an eye out as its got a few different plants in and I was a little worried but my bf, who I have been getting it off, who cuts and bales it, assured me there wasn't any ragwort in it. It's so hard to spot though as the haylage has been chopped really finely. Not the long standard you would expect.

I'm so worried and upset now, I don't know if I should be upset with the bf... seeing as he promised me it was fine.Its lucky I've spotted it, I hope I've seen it in enough time...

Then top it off whilst trying to empty the shed I put a pitch fork straight through my foot and have spent the last few hours in a&e.

 

[Merry Crisis]

So all in all not a good day then! Are you sure its ragwort and not buttercups? Dump the boyfriend then dump the haylage then pour a large drink. Thats my advice.

 

[Holly Hocks]

So all in all not a good day then! Are you sure its ragwort and not buttercups? Dump the boyfriend then dump the haylage then pour a large drink. Thats my advice.

Agree with this! Could it also be dandelions?

 

[5horses2dogsandacat]

Nope, I got my dad to look at well, he's a farmer too and he was 100% it was ragwort.

More upset about the haylage then my stupid foot Xx

 

[5horses2dogsandacat]

I'll post some pics up later when I'm on the laptop. I'll leave you the delight of looking at one of my foot! lol Xx

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I can sympathise!
I spent a week one October, sifting through small haybales for ragwort and washing it to get the dust out! The supplier's vehicle had broken, he couldn't get to me to replace the bales. He did replace them later but it was all I had available at the time.
Are you absolutely certain that what you have found is ragwort? It can be difficult to tell the difference between that and docks in hay/lage, as they both have very woody stalks.
I would take any out of your haylage, ask your bf to look at the plants, compare the plants to an illustration and take it from there.
All the best for your foot!

 

[cumbriamax]

I would get it analylised by prof.derek Knottenbelt of liverpool university before you dump bf as suggested by merry crisis. E mail him knotty@liverpool.ac.uk I emailed him one sunday nite & honestly he replied in minutes and said send it to him to be checked!

I wouldn't feed anymore of it tho, at least until you know.

sorry about your foot btw!

 

[Sparkles]

I've done the whole pitch fork in foot thing too!!! I can completely sympathise as I couldn't walk for at least 4 days hardly after! I was silly and didn't go to A&E though....no problems now and it healed in about a week or so, but I still have the scar on my foot!

 

[5horses2dogsandacat]

Thanks everyone! The foot is soo sore, I hobbled out to do the horses in some croc type shoes as my wellies wont fit

Here's some pictures of it...

These were the largest bits I could find...

xxxx

 

[Tharg]

Bump

 

[cm2581]

It's very hard to tell from the photos if it is or isn't ragwort. However, do not feed any of the bale of haylage as the toxin spreads through the entire bale. This doesn't happen with hay so it is much more dangerous in haylage than hay. If your horse has eaten any of the bale speak to your vet ASAP. I would be getting Bloods done if I were you as the likelihood is all of the haylage batch could be contaminated. Sorry to sound like a drama queen but if you wait till there may or may not be any symptoms it could well be too late by then.

 

[5horses2dogsandacat]

I phoned my bf, apparently it is a type of herb as he cuts off a organic field.. :/ he wasn't at all impressed I had got shot of the bale and didn't even ask about my foot.. men!

vets out tomorrow to see one of the horses will have a word and see what they say. If they have had any it will be minimal, so I don't know if blood tests will show anything. Will see what they say.. Xx