[Jacob-list] poisonous plants & sheep

[Linda]

No, I don't think the vet was right. I'm sure I'm not the only person on 
the list that has lost a sheep that ate a toxic plant - in my case a 
mountain laurel (aka lambkill) branch that broke and blew into the ram 
paddock during the winter.

Linda

Katherine Williamson wrote:

> When we first moved to our place we were petrified to put sheep (or 

> anything else) on the hillside because it was so dense with blackberry 

> vines, privet, and poison ivy that we couldn't tell if there were 

> noxious plants there that might harm something if eaten.  You couldn't 

> walk thru the area without a machete.

>

> A vet from our local vet school told us not to worry, that animals 

> have a "sixth sense" about which plants NOT to eat, and they stay away 

> from them. 

>

> Fast forward 15 years and the hillside is cleared of all brush, 

> bushes, small trees, and anything else that was chewable.  The sheep 

> are healthy and happy.  If they ate anything poisonous, it didn't 

> affect them. 

>

> The question:  I was given a Carolina Jasmine plant this spring, and 

> I'd love to have it climbing one of the pasture fences, but I've been 

> told it is _very_ toxic.  I don't want to make the sheep sick, nor do 

> I want to have the plant eaten.

>

> Do you think the vet was right?  Will they somehow know not to eat it?

>

> Just some food for thought.

>

> Kathey

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