Post by hayforhorses - The Food Angel on Jul 6, 2007 21:26:05 GMT -5
Hoary Alyssum is native to N. US and can be found in many of our states...view all the info and the photos to familiarize yourself with this toxic plant:
www.aspca. org/site/ PageServer?
pagename=pro_ apcc_horsetoxicp lants
www.co. whatcom.wa. us/publicworks/ pdf/weeds/ hoary_alyssum. pdf
Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin is alerting horse owners to a problem that has occurred with some alfalfa hay from Michigan and the upper Midwest.
The hay may contain hoary alyssum (Berteroa incana), a weed that is toxic to horses.
"We have a report of 25 horses sickened from eating alfalfa hay from Michigan that contained this plant. The horses had swollen legs, fever and some were showing signs of foundering," said Commissioner Irvin.
"What is especially troubling is that the weed was practicically
invisible in the hay. It was only after close investigation after the
horses got sick that the presence of this plant was found," said
Irvin.
Hoary alyssum has round stems and an alternate leaf pattern. (The leaves are not directly opposite each other but appear alternately up the stem.) Because the dried leaves are fragile, most of them will have fractured and become part of the alfalfa "dust" in the bale. The older stems may have a purple blush. Stems may have a slight fuzz or "hoary" appearance.
"I urge all horse owners in Georgia to check their alfalfa hay and to contact their veterinarian if they see any problems with their
horses," said Irvin.
Hoary alyssum is native to Europe and naturalized throughout much of the northern U.S. For more information, horse owners can refer to "Hoary Alyssum: Toxicity to Horses, Forage Quality and Control" from the University of Minnesota at:
ww.extension. umn.edu/distribu tion/livestocksy stems/DI5567. html.
www.aspca. org/site/ PageServer?
pagename=pro_ apcc_horsetoxicp lants
www.co. whatcom.wa. us/publicworks/ pdf/weeds/ hoary_alyssum. pdf
Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin is alerting horse owners to a problem that has occurred with some alfalfa hay from Michigan and the upper Midwest.
The hay may contain hoary alyssum (Berteroa incana), a weed that is toxic to horses.
"We have a report of 25 horses sickened from eating alfalfa hay from Michigan that contained this plant. The horses had swollen legs, fever and some were showing signs of foundering," said Commissioner Irvin.
"What is especially troubling is that the weed was practicically
invisible in the hay. It was only after close investigation after the
horses got sick that the presence of this plant was found," said
Irvin.
Hoary alyssum has round stems and an alternate leaf pattern. (The leaves are not directly opposite each other but appear alternately up the stem.) Because the dried leaves are fragile, most of them will have fractured and become part of the alfalfa "dust" in the bale. The older stems may have a purple blush. Stems may have a slight fuzz or "hoary" appearance.
"I urge all horse owners in Georgia to check their alfalfa hay and to contact their veterinarian if they see any problems with their
horses," said Irvin.
Hoary alyssum is native to Europe and naturalized throughout much of the northern U.S. For more information, horse owners can refer to "Hoary Alyssum: Toxicity to Horses, Forage Quality and Control" from the University of Minnesota at:
ww.extension. umn.edu/distribu tion/livestocksy stems/DI5567. html.
