Would you run the risk ?

[tessybear]

A friend of mine is buying hay off someone who charges a low fee for large circular bales. However the field is not free of ragwort when it is cut therefore the bales run the risk of being contaminated with the ragwort. The farmer who we buy our hay off has run out but warned us not to buy from him, as apparently there have been complaints from a lot of people with cattle and horses who buy from him that the bales are riddled with ragwort. Yet friend continues to feed horse this hay because it's cheap. Personally i wouldn’t run the risk and would rather pay for good stuff.

Would you risk it ?

 

[Mongoose11]

Absolutely not!

 

[Klix]

Definatly Not.

 

[tessybear]

Absolutely not!

That was my reaction when my farmer told me, instantly on the phone to her and she said her horse would eat round them..

 

[Montyforever]

No!! We had loads of ragwort in a bale once, even though we picked all the bits out still made one of the mares colicky!

 

[basilbrush2009]

Its just not worth the risk. i have had a bad bale before and not only ragwort but it was more sticks than hay i would go up in the morning and find a pile of sticks in the stable!
You can sit there all day trying to pick it out but you will never get it all so just not worth the risk

 

[JillA]

No way. Ragwort is only palatable once it is dead, so that is when most horses are likely to eat it. And the toxins affect the liver and are cumulative, you may not be aware of the damage for months or even years. But it is still there, and irreversable - they will be signing their horse's death sentence if they carry on with it, even if no ill effects appear.

 

[tessybear]

I hope no-one minds me printing this thread off and showing her that it isn't just me being OTT

 

[metalmare]

No way. Ragwort is only palatable once it is dead, so that is when most horses are likely to eat it. And the toxins affect the liver and are cumulative, you may not be aware of the damage for months or even years. But it is still there, and irreversable - they will be signing their horse's death sentence if they carry on with it, even if no ill effects appear.

^^^ This.

 

[glamourpuss]

Never, ever, ever in a million years. Anyone that knowingly feeds their horses hay that contains ragwort (especially if they've been warned it contains the stuff) is an imbecile of the highest order & doesn't deserve horses.
I have seen a horse die from liver failure - believed to be from ragwort poisoning damage. Believe me if you'd witnessed it you would understand the harsh language.

 

[Tinsel Town]

nope never, ever

 

[Polos Mum]

No way - one of the reasons (appart from cost) that I make my own, unless you walk the fields yourself how can you be sure any hay is free of it. A local riding school around here makes and sells hay in a field that looks like a rape field in summer - can't believe anyone buys it but every year they advertise !!