RAYLESS GOLDEN ROD POISONING

Ray less GOLDEN ROD POISONING

This is the first year I have not had reports of horses and cattle getting the trembles.  This is a sign in goldenrod poisoning.  So far in Eddy County I have not had any calls on sick animals. This is great and is the only year I can remember not getting any.  But I thought I would review the information anyway just in case.    Eddy County usually has problems when it snows and rayless goldenrod is what is stick up out of the snow.  Here is some information you need to know. 

Rayless goldenrod (Haplopappus heterophyllus), rosea, or goldenrod  or jimmy weed, is an erect, bushy, unbranched perennial shrub, growing from 3 to 4 feet tall. The leaves are alternate, linear, and sticky, and the flowers are yellow. It is toxic to horses, cattle, sheep, and goats. The reported toxic substance, trematone, is the same toxin found in white snakeroot (Eupatorium rugosum), a common poisonous plant in the Ohio river valley and eastern United States. Trematone is excreted in the milk of lactating animals so that the young may become poisoned by the consumption of contaminated milk (milk sickness).

President Lincoln mother was poisoned by consuming milk from a cow that had eaten White Snakeroot plant.  The toxin is present in both green and dry plant material. 

This shrub grows on the dry rangelands from southern Colorado into Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. It grows especially well in river valleys and along drainage areas.  In Eddy county I find it up on the range lands on sandy and loam soils.  Rayless Goldenrod often invades disturbed soil like road sides, oil pad, or around water tanks. Poisoning is most common in late fall and winter, particularly after snowfall that covers other forage or other forages are unavailable.  It is often planted as an ornamental along highways in Northern New Mexico.

 Livestock are affected when daily consumption of 1 to 1.5 percent of an animal's weight of the green plant for 1 to 3 weeks will produce signs of poisoning in horses, cattle, and sheep.  I have seen it in goats, but I could not find a reference in publications on that.  Death will result if the affected animals are not removed from access to the plant early. The condition it produces in all livestock is known as trembles. As the toxin is secreted in milk, nursing young may become poisoned by consuming milk.  The dam may not show any signs of poisoning when grazing goldenrod.  The animal may not show signs of poisoning until they are moved or exercised.

Signs and Lesions of Poisoning

  Lassitude and depression

  Stands in a humped-up position; stiff gait when walking

  Trembling of muscles of nose and legs, especially after exercise; as the condition
   worsens, the whole body may shake

  Weakness

  Constipation and dribbling of urine

  Recumbency

  Acetone or alcohol  odor on the breath

  Coma

  Terminal respiration consists of prolonged inspiration, a short pause, and forced
   expiration

  Death

  Myocardial necrosis and fibrosis of cardiac and skeletal muscles

  Degenerative changes of the liver

If you have an animal that show symptoms, try not to move or excite the animal and feed good quality hay for up to 10 weeks.  Treat with mineral oil and activated charcoal if possible to move the toxic weed out of the digestive system as soon as possible.  Consult with your Veterinarian immediately after seeing symptoms.  Poisoning of livestock by rayless goldenrod can best be prevented by preventing livestock from grazing on ranges infested with this plant for extended periods when other forage is short or snowfall prevents feeding.   Rayless goldenrod can be controlled by picloram or dicamba in late summer following adequate rainfall.  Follow precautions for handling herbicides.  For more information contact your local county agent.  There is a Trich meeting with the State Veterinarian Sunday January 20^th CVE in Artessia 3:00 pm.    Subscribe to Eddy County Ag news at: http://nmsueddyag.blogspot.com/  Eddy County Extension Service, New Mexico State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator.  All programs are available to everyone regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, handicap, or national origin.  New Mexico State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Eddy County Government Cooperating.