Yes, ragwort is poisonous to horses and cattle, particularly when included in hay. It's also poisonous to humans, but no more so than many other plants - see the above article from Friends of the Earth. No need to wear gloves when digging it up, IMO.
I have ragwort in my "mini meadow". I don't keep livestock and don't make hay, and make sure the ragwort doesn't seed around (though neighbouring farmers have plenty of it growing in their fields) - but it's an attractive native plant which is good for wildlife, so I let it be.
As the quoted article makes plain, it's a myth to claim we have a "legal duty" to dig it up if it's on our land (sorry @Slow-worm), though I understand that feelings can run high if you've lost an animal through ragwort poisoning.
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
When I had grazing and hay meadows and kept livestock I walked the land methodically removing ragwort … however it’s an important wildlife resource and as @Liriodendron there is no need to remove it from land where stock doesn’t graze or where hay isn’t made.
If you have grazing or hay meadows nearby you can remove the flowerheads as they ‘go over’ before the seedheads ripen and spread.
Otherwise it’s fine to leave it for the cinnabar moth caterpillars 😊
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
It is not illegal to have ragwort growing on your land. You can report ragwort to DEFRA if you are aware of uncontrolled ragwort which is likely to spread to grazing or land used for hay.
See this quote from a letter to Horse & Hound where DEFRA says
“ … You can make an official complaint under the Injurious Weeds Act 1959 if you have asked/contacted the landowner and feel there is a threat of ragwort spreading where it is a significant threat to grazing horses, livestock and agricultural practices. An Inspector would use the following criteria before issuing the notice;
Common Ragwort
Land on which Common Ragwort is growing is within 100m of land used for grazing by horses and other animals, land used for forage production and / or other agricultural activities. No minimum population density is required to trigger the issue of a notice. The distance of 100m applies to any vulnerable land and not just the complainants.
It is not illegal to simply have ragwort growing and it is an indigenous plant. * If you feel your complaint reaches this criteria please fill in the enclosed claim form and send to us. The complainant will be kept anonymous….”
A horse is far more beautiful than any ruddy moth, and it is supposed to be reported to Defra if it's on your land.
Thats a matter of opinion, the Cinnabar moth trumps a horse any day of the week in my book. We dont have any grazing here so I let it grow wherever it likes
Posts
Yes, ragwort is poisonous to horses and cattle, particularly when included in hay. It's also poisonous to humans, but no more so than many other plants - see the above article from Friends of the Earth. No need to wear gloves when digging it up, IMO.
I have ragwort in my "mini meadow". I don't keep livestock and don't make hay, and make sure the ragwort doesn't seed around (though neighbouring farmers have plenty of it growing in their fields) - but it's an attractive native plant which is good for wildlife, so I let it be.
As the quoted article makes plain, it's a myth to claim we have a "legal duty" to dig it up if it's on our land (sorry @Slow-worm), though I understand that feelings can run high if you've lost an animal through ragwort poisoning.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
These are the cinnabar moth caterpillars chewing on ragwort. Taken on our local common. Handsome beasties aren't they?
..see below..
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/801153/code-of-practice-on-how-to-prevent-the-spread-of-ragwort.pdf
“ … You can make an official complaint under the Injurious Weeds Act 1959 if you have asked/contacted the landowner and feel there is a threat of ragwort spreading where it is a significant threat to grazing horses, livestock and agricultural practices. An Inspector would use the following criteria before issuing the notice;
Common Ragwort
Land on which Common Ragwort is growing is within 100m of land used for grazing by horses and other animals, land used for forage production and / or other agricultural activities. No minimum population density is required to trigger the issue of a notice. The distance of 100m applies to any vulnerable land and not just the complainants.
https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/threads/reporting-ragwort.478279/#:~:text=You%20can%20report%20it%2C%20but%20DEFRA%20won%27t%20do,horse%20owners%20to%20see.%20They%20may%20take%20notice
* my italics.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.