Be Aware of The Potential Threat From Foxtail in Hay

        

 

We have had some extreme weather the last few seasons. This has set up favorable conditions for a number of weed species to invade our pastures and hay fields.  A series of wet winters and dry summers have contributed to the thinning of desirable forages and opened up holes for opportunistic weeds to fill in.  While I am a subscriber to the theory “if it’s green and they eat it, it’s not a weed”, I’ll have to concede, there are some of these invaders we could sure live without. 

Foxtail (sp. Seteria) is certainly one of them.  While there is no known toxic agent in this weed, the seeds have a barbed awn which is a physical irritant to animals who may eat the seed heads.  These seeds and awns can become imbedded in the soft tissues of the mouth, lips and gums.  Horses may develop ulcers or blisters on the lips and mouth and may eat slowly, refuse to eat at all or show other signs of irritation.

Most horses will not eat the seed heads of the standing plant in the pasture, so the greatest threat is from Foxtail in hay.  Not all horses are sensitive to the seeds and awns of the Foxtail plant.  Inspect your hay for the presence of Foxtail and be aware of the problems it may cause.  If you know your hay contains Foxtail, check your horse's mouth periodically.  The seeds and awns can be removed from the  gums and lips with a wet cloth or water hose, but may require sedation and therefore a visit from your vet. 

If you notice an invasion of Foxtail in your pastures, keeping your pastures clipped to prevent seeding will help solve the problem two ways.  First, there will be no seed heads for your horse to eat – the plant itself causes no irritation, just the seedhead.  Second, Foxtail is an annual plant so it has to produce seed to keep showing up in your pasture.  Mowing to prevent seed production is the best way to get Foxtail under control since there are no selective herbicides to kill it in a stand of grass. 

Just like with all weeds, the thicker and healthier the stand of grass you are intending to grow, the less room there is for weeds.   Most toxic weeds are not appealing to the horse who is not bored or chronically hungry.  By keeping your pastures healthy, you give your horse something to nibble on all day long which keeps him from scouting out and eating things he wouldn’t otherwise.  Besides that, good pasture management helps prevent erosion and enhances the beauty of your property.  Minimizing the bare ground and mud will also cut back on grooming time so you'll have more time to do what you really want - RIDE!

by Marti Day

Extension Area Specialized Agent

Agriculture - Dairy, Horses and Row Crops

Chatham County