Posted by bulldog2 on November 4, 2009, at 18:08:41
In reply to Re: You Must Use Caution With St. Johns Wort, posted by linkadge on November 4, 2009, at 17:04:20
> >The cattle were browsing in a field where sjw >was growing.
>
> I heard that story only the reverse conclusion. I read an article which stated that no adverse effects had been observed in the cattle that graze about and feed on the SJW plant daily for years.
>
> Linkadge
Grazing: St. Johnswort presents difficult problems for grazing, given its chemical constituents. It depresses the central nervous system and increases the animals' sensitivity to temperature change and handling. St. Johnswort also affects the liver, causing temporary sensitivity to sunlight. Livestock usually avoid it unless food is scarce. Excess consumption leads to blistering and itching on light-haired or unpigmented skin areas including the mouth, nose and ears. Dark skin is not affected. The animals may lose weight, become difficult to manage, and they may die of dehydration or starvation if there is swelling or soreness in the mouth. Cattle need to ingest only 1% of their body weight to be affected, whereas sheep can consume up to 4% of their weight. The wool and meat of affected animals is often of poor quality. Horses, rabbits and pigs are also affected by the herb, but I have not found any information reporting whether or not goats are affected. The dried plant as found in hay is much less potent than fresh, but may still cause problems.
poster:bulldog2
thread:924178
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20091029/msgs/924482.html