Can Horses Eat Sow Thistle?

horses LOVE them. Usually referred to as milk thistle. due to the milky sap inside the stem they are. extremely palatable and known as a liver tonic.

Is sow thistle the same as milk thistle?

Common sowthistle (Sonchus oleraceus), also known as milk thistle, is widespread across the grain-growing regions of Queensland and northern New South Wales. Sowthistle uses stored soil water during fallows and interferes with crop harvest, adding green matter to harvested grain.

Is thistle good for horses?

For the most part, members of the thistle family—those with blue, pink, or purple flowers—are harmless and safe for horses to nibble. However, a few species of thistle are toxic to horses. The most widespread toxic thistle is the yellow star thistle, which is found in the western United States, especially California.

What animals can eat thistle?

The goldfinch is the bird most commonly associated with thistles, the seeds of which make up one third of its diet. Within the same genera are greenfinch, siskin, linnet, twite and redpoll, which eat thistle seeds and use thistledown in the nest. Butterflies including painted lady larvae feed on the leaves.

Can thistles be poisonous?

Milk thistle, a regulated Class A noxious weed, is a toxic, branching winter annual or biennial that grows 2-6 feet tall in disturbed areas, such as pastures, roadsides, ditches, and fencerows. Ingestion can cause nitrate poisoning in cattle and sheep.

Is milk thistle good for horses?

Veterinarians can recommend milk thistle for the treatment of equine liver disease and laminitis.

What are sow thistles good for?

Common sow thistle is in the Compositae (Asteraceae) family. This is a nutritious plant that contains several minerals (calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, sodium, potassium and zinc) and vitamins ( A, B1, B2, B3, B6, & C). The leaves are also great to use as an antioxidant.

Is sow thistle poisonous to humans?

Health Risks: Entire plant is highly toxic to humans and livestock, causing vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory issues, and spasms.

Are thistle weeds poisonous to horses?

Yellow starthistle is toxic to horses and causes “chewing disease”. In most cases, horses die from starvation or dehydration because chewing disease results in permanent, untreatable brain damage to the fine motor control area. Yellow starthistle is not toxic to other grazing animals, including mules and burros.

What livestock eats thistles?

Thistles are very good feed with 22-24 percent protein, and cattle will readily eat it once they start. We pour molasses on our thistles to encourage our cattle to eat them, and it works.

What animals eat thistle seed?

Lure American goldfinches, pine siskins, dark-eyed juncos and chickadees with nyjer, a tiny black seed that is sometimes called thistle.

How long should you feed milk thistle to horses?

Feed between 10 – 40 grams per day for at least 4 – 6 weeks for optimum nutritional support. 1 x 25 ml scoop weighs approx. 14 grams If feeding for an average 500kg horse at the lower rate this product should last you 100 days.

How much milk thistle can you give a horse?

It is recommended to begin feeding ground milk thistle seed powder at a rate of ~2 grams per day for a 500kg horse. You can gradually increase the feeding rate over a few weeks to the recommended maintenance dose of 4.5 grams per day for a 500kg horse.

Who should not use milk thistle?

Milk thistle should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women. People with a history of hormone-related cancers, including breast, uterine, and prostate cancer, should not take milk thistle. DO NOT take milk thistle if you are allergic to ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, chamomile, yarrow, or daisies.

Are all sow thistles edible?

SOWTHISTLE AS FOOD
The best part of the plant is the young leaves, raw or cooked. They can be added to salads, cooked like spinach or used in soups etc. You can also use the stems, cooked like asparagus or rhubarb. The milky sap has been used as a chewing gum by the Maoris of New Zealand.

What parts of the sow thistle are edible?

The leaves, flowers and roots are edible. These are best consumed when the plant is young because the older it gets the more bitter it becomes. Once it becomes bitter you can cook with it or mix it with pleasant tasting greens. Leaf spines need to be removed.

Why is it called a sow thistle?

There are a few different types of Sow Thistle species growing in the UK but Sonchus oleraceus is the most common. It got the name Sow Thistle from the fact that when cut the plant exudes a latex like milk which was believed to help lactation in mothering sows.

Are sow thistles good for wildlife?

Daisies, dandelions and thistles
Plants in this family have many small flowers that are gathered into a flowerhead which then looks like a single flower. It contains many plants that are exceptionally good for wildlife, either attracting insects for nectar or birds and small mammals for seeds.

How do you get rid of thistles in pastures?

Herbicides are often the most flexible and affordable option for thistle control in pastures. However, like mowing, timing is an important factor for many herbicides. Several commonly used pasture herbicides are highly effective on thistles if applied early in the growing season (Table 2).

Does milk thistle have another name?

The terms “milk thistle” and “silymarin” are often used interchangeably. Historically, people have used milk thistle for liver disorders and gallbladder problems. Milk thistle is promoted as a dietary supplement for hepatitis, cirrhosis, jaundice, diabetes, indigestion, and other conditions.

What is the difference between milkweed and milk thistle?

Milkweed is a brightly flowering plant that attracts a plethora of fauna, whereas milk thistle is an invasive weed that can take over poorly tended fields and roadsides and has become a nuisance in the western regions of North America.