Promise Acre: Our Journey

[Bruce]

Hope you have enjoyed the ride so far....

Have done so but I did hit my head on the car roof when you hit some of the bigger bumps!

 

[promiseacres]

Have done so but I did hit my head on the car roof when you hit some of the bigger bumps!

 

[promiseacres]

Went exploring today. We hauled 3 loads of equipment from Mom's over our long weekend.

 

[farmerjan]

Looks like fun.... bet you will really like it.

 

[Baymule]

Doesn't it feel good to walk around on your land!

 

[promiseacres]

Doesn't it feel good to walk around on your land!

Yes!!!!!! Most of the pastures were mainly grass, a few scrub trees need to come down but nothing too major. There is snake weed in spots...and where they had cattle a big patch of giant rag weed. But knowing it's sat for awhile it could be worse. Definitely is worth putting back as pastures and hay. We'll keep the more wooded area at the west for hunting.

 

[Baymule]

Giant ragweed is good forage for Sheep. My hair Sheep love the stuff.

 

[greybeard]

Yes!!!!!! Most of the pastures were mainly grass, a few scrub trees need to come down but nothing too major. There is snake weed in spots...and where they had cattle a big patch of giant rag weed. But knowing it's sat for awhile it could be worse. Definitely is worth putting back as pastures and hay. We'll keep the more wooded area at the west for hunting.

How long (in months..approximately) has it been since it was mowed or grazed?

 

[promiseacres]

How long (in months..approximately) has it been since it was mowed or grazed?

am told there were cattle there 2015, possibly 2016...
And we will till and reseed. but good to not see it just full of weeds or scrubby bushes.

 

[greybeard]

am told there were cattle there 2015, possibly 2016...
And we will till and reseed. but good to not see it just full of weeds or scrubby bushes.

Thanks. I'm sure you know the ragweed is easily managed, but the broom snakeweed is a different story. When you till it, the stuff is really going to come back strong as each plant drops thousands of seeds and they are viable up to 5 years. And, it being a perennial, each spring, the original plant begin again from last year's crown. I never had a whole lot of it here and was only able to get rid of it by burning it with a pear burner. The seeds tend to drop right under the bush so it's pretty easy to burn them all as they come up.
Herbicides work on it very well if you are of that mindset, providing you use the right one and apply it at the right time. Anything with picloram or dicamba will control it well, as either has enough soil activity as a pre-emergent to prevent the seeds already in the soil from germinating.......tho I am not a big fan of picloram or dicamba. I prefer to use something like triclopyr to kill the existing plants, then respray as the new ones come up. triclopyr has no residual soil activity.
You will notice that triclpyr is not listed in the following tables for control of snakeweed. The Texas agriscience dept chooses to list just the top 2-3 substances that work the best on any given plant species, regardless of what other undesirable effects they may have. They recommend MSMA but MSMA is very much restricted anywhere near croplands, especially anywhere grains and cotton are grown.

https://agrilifecdn.tamu.edu/bexarcounty/files/2012/07/ERM-1466.pdf

Even tho it is a dicot and relatively easy to pull up, digging or pulling it up is a non starter. All you will do is prompt the seeds in the ground to germinate and you will be right back where you began--or worse.

No, you can't graze it to extinction either. It's just too hardy and there are too many seeds in the ground already. It's all over the Western US from south Texas to Canada, in private and govt rangelands full of sheep cattle and goats.

I assume you understand it's toxicity qualities. Fortunately most stock leave it alone and eat very little.

In large quantities this plant can be toxic to grazing animals, due to the presence of saponins!

Also known as broom snakeweed, broomweed, and turpentine weed and with the botanic name Gutierrezia sarothrae, snakeweed is from the family Asteraceae. Snakeweed can be found in the dry plains and foothills from 4,000 to 10,000 feet in elevation and has been found to be poisonous to horses, cattle, sheep and goats. Snakeweed is a perennial that is shrubby at the base and then reaching 18 to 24 inches in height. The stems branch out and the leaves are linear and smooth. There are typically multiple heads in clusters at the ends of each branch. The flowers are yellow and 3-8 ray flowers and 3-8 disc flowers (that bloom from August to October) will be present on each head. In rangeland that has been overgrazed, snakeweed will often form dense stands. Snakeweed, or Gutierrezia sarothrae, contains saponin that is poisonous to horses when ingested, causing diarrhea and in some cases, abortion in pregnant mares.

Symptoms of Snakeweed Poisoning in Horses
Should your horse ingest snakeweed, he may develop diarrhea, followed by his becoming constipated. Other symptoms include: Red blood cells found in urine Appearing listless Nasal discharge with crusting Rough hair coat Necrosis of the liver Presence of jaundice in the eyes Should a horse experience snakeweed poisoning when pregnant, they may experience vulvar swelling and the poisoning may lead to the death of the foal they are carrying. In some cases, the foal is born alive but is very weak and may pass away a few days later.

Types
Your horse can experience toxicity in two ways from ingesting snakeweed. Saponins that are present in snakeweed can lead to poisoning in your horse. In addition, your horse can experience toxicity from selenium that has been absorbed through the soil by the snakeweed.

Causes of Snakeweed Poisoning in Horses
It is believed that saponins in snakeweed are the toxic component. Saponins are glycosides that have characteristic foaming and are made of a polycyclic aglycone. Saponins are bitter so horses tend to not want to ingest too much. The plant is toxic when green, as well as when dried, though toxicity does seem to vary. It seems that higher toxicity occurs during times of rapid growth, like in early development of leaves as well as when the plant grows in sandy as opposed to calcareous soils. Snakeweed also absorbs selenium which can also cause toxicity in your horse when a significant amount is consumed.

Diagnosis of Snakeweed Poisoning in Horses
In cases of poisoning, it can be a challenge for your veterinarian to diagnose your horse because many of the substances that are toxic to horses cause similar symptoms. Should you notice concerning symptoms in your horse, it is a good idea to look in the area where he has been roaming to see what plants or trees he may have ingested. Should you find any possible suspects, you can bring a sample with you when having your horse examined. Your veterinarian will conduct a physical examination of your horse and possibly conduct testing on a fecal sample, stomach contents or body tissues. The sample of what your horse may have ingested can help your veterinarian narrow down the possible type of poisoning your horse is experiencing.

Treatment of Snakeweed Poisoning in Horses
There is no antidote for snakeweed poisoning. It is important that your horse be kept from the snakeweed and supportive care be administered. To start, your veterinarian will seek to clear out the stomach of your horse to remove the poisoning. Activated charcoal can be administered in an effort to absorb the poisoning so that it is not absorbed by your horse’s body. Quick attention is key in order for less poison to be metabolized and absorbed by your horse. Gastric lavage can be used to clear any plant particles out of your horse (and these particles can be tested to confirm the type of poison). Fluid therapy may be utilized in order to flush the kidneys and make sure that your horse does not become dehydrated. If necessary, oxygen will be administered. Medication may be recommended to help your horse with any abdominal pain.

Read more at: https://wagwalking.com/horse/condition/snakeweed-poisoning-