Didn't realise what this weed was until I saw this blog. I have one plant of it in one of my borders and have been impressed by how attractive the flowers are. The leaves don't look good at all, but apart from that it is adding a great splash of colour.
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It's the main food plant for the cinnabar moth caterpillars so it's not all bad.
In the sticks near Peterborough
There are many causes of liver problems in horses and poisoning is just one of them. PAs are just one possible cause of poisoning. PAs are present in many native species. Unfortunately an urban myth has taken hold and many websites publish what they describe as signs of ragwort poisoning, which are in reality the signs of liver failure (however caused).
The toxic effects of ragwort are extraordinary in that all parts of the plant are toxic, even when dead, also the toxic effect is cumulative such that when an animal shows symptoms treatment is not often successful.
A toxic dose can be can be eaten in one go or little by little over an extended period of time. Ragwort in preserved forage is certainly very dangerous as Bill has mentioned but if ragwort is in grazing it will be come more palatable as it seeds, wilts and dies back.
Sheep do come to harm if they eat ragwort especially if they are young. Older sheep can tolerate more but are not resistant as such. Ragwort affects a grazing animals, cattle and horses are particularly sensitive to ragwort poisoning and also chickens and pigs.
Ragwort poisoning is not easy to diagnose even at post mortem and yes liver damage can be due to many causes, but toxic it is and in my opinion keeping it out of grazing land and preserved forage is essential part of good livestock husbandry.
Bill regards this as hysteria, I regard his stance as dismissive of the problem. The fact that he and others aim to repeal the weeds act and ragwort control act may explain his position. These acts only require removal of ragwort where they are likely to spread to grazing land and land used to produce preserved forage so there are still plenty of other areas where ragwort can (and does) flourish.
Anyone who has any concerns about ragwort and animals in their care should speak to their vet
I've now got a bit of an over-run area which has ragworts and willowherbs. This year I have a breeding population of cinnabar moth (ragwort obviously) and elephant hawk moth (willowherbs).
Gardens can be used to grow animals as well as plants.
With regards to insects it should be mentioned that insects 'see' at different wavelengths to the human eye, well into ultraviolet ranges. Flowers/plants can have markings which are hidden from human eyesight.
It isn't hysteria!
Ragwort is highly toxic to grazing animals and particularly to horses. Well that's not really true.... the only reason why it's not such a serious issue for cattle and sheep is that they're ordinarily slaughtered and eaten before they suffer the serious consequential efffects of ragwort poisoning.
As it's covered by the Ragwort Control Act and it's also toxic to people and via skin absorption so frankly, it's dumb growing it and handling it
http://news.liv.ac.uk/2004/07/08/horse-owners-can-prevent-ragwort-poisoning/
http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/environment-housing-and-planning/countryside/explore-surreys-countryside/looking-after-the-countryside/countryside-advice/horse-care-and-pasture-management/ragwort
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/common-ragwort-disposal-options-guidance
We've provided respite care for horses that have been serious neglect cases and including had ragwort poisoning and believe me it's not pretty! They were ultimately euthanased to prevent further suffering and after having developed photosensitisation and liver failure.
If you know of a field that contains ragwort and with grazing horses then the owner is in breach of The Animal Welfare Act as well as the Ragwort Control Act. They could be liable to prosecution for causing suffering and rightly so!
I have Ragwort in my garden for the Cinnabar moths like nut said
Its their main host plant.
Have you got many this year Fishy? I haven't.
In the sticks near Peterborough
Now you come to mention it nut,no I haven't. I counted three caterpillars today,OK they were well grown but I usually have way more than that.
I've seen 3 or 4 moths and 5 caterpillars. A poor showing
A few years ago every ragwort plant would be covered.
In the sticks near Peterborough
Last year was much better.I think maybe you get these variations in numbers through most species. Cuckoos are down a massive 60% I think they said on springwatch this year,or have declined by that in recent years,I can't remember which. I can't recall the last time I heard one but my brother said they are still common in Scotland.