Milkweed In Hay For Horses. Even though milkweed may not be a favorite feed for horses the potential for death is high. The whorled leaf milkweed has a finer stem and leaves that make it harder for horses to separate the weeds from the hay.
What is the risk. Ingestion of milkweed is most common when the plant is dried and baled. I will say that i did worry about the milkweed when i first found it in some hay we d bought as a toxic plant it was new to me because i d not ever seen it in the uk so i asked around just like you are doing now and didn t find anyone who d had a horse suffer from it being in their hay because they didn t.
I worry a lot more about ragwort in hay because horses will eat that when its dried out.
Ingestion of milkweed is most common when the plant is dried and baled. The whorled leaf milkweed has a finer stem and leaves that make it harder for horses to separate the weeds from the hay. I worry a lot more about ragwort in hay because horses will eat that when its dried out. Although horses may be able to sort broadleaf and course stemmed milkweed plants from the hay the whorled leaf plants commonly found in hay fields have finer stems and leaves making them more difficult to find and sort out.