Frequently (and not so frequently) Asked Questions
BRIEF: I need some information on Fiddleneck...
QUESTION:
I need some help locating information on the plant, fiddleneck. We just purchased
a home with acreage for our horses in Northern
California. The local Veterinarian stopped by our home and told us our pasture
was full of fiddleneck and it could be fatal to our horses. Using the
internet, I was able to establish that the seeds were actually toxic; but when
does the plant go to seed and how do we get rid of it? Can we just mow the
flower tops down? We have been pulling it up by hand as quickly as possible,
but the horses are eating it. We nearly lost our 6 month old filly, 2 years
ago to starthistle poisoning. We hand fed her a mush mixture of ground oats and
alfalfa pellets for 3 months until she was able to find another way to eat on
her own.
ANSWER:
It could be that your horses may not get enough to hurt them, but you are wise
to be concerned and take steps to get them off the
fiddleneck.
Fiddleneck (Amsinckia intermedia) contains some potent pyrrolizidine alkaloids
that can cause severe liver damage. It may take a quite some time to kill or
injure a horse, or it can happen quickly, depending on the dose. Of course this
is the time of year it is a big problem because very often on disturbed sites
(orchards, roadsides, fields disced last year, etc.) it can be the dominant
plant in March-April. The whole plant is toxic, so you need to worry about more
than the
seeds.
For controlling fiddleneck, you should ask a weed specialist at your Cooperative
Extension office. I would guess mowing would help and seeding to desirable
species can't hurt. Will this area be irrigated? If so, you can favor more
desirable species very easily. Once irrigated perennial species are established,
they can outcompete fiddleneck (and star thistle, etc.), but you need to watch
the edges of the fields where the water doesn't reach. Fiddleneck finds its way
into first cutting hay in California, since it volunteers and comes up with the
late Winter, early Spring rains and matures along with the alfalfa. It is
usually found around the edges of a hay field, especially in spots where the
sprinklers don't quite
reach.
We all know that jaundice (vets call it icterus lately, but it is still a
yellowing of the eyes and normally light membranes) is a symptom of liver damage.
What you may not know that in the case of fiddleneck (or senecio or comfrey)
poisoning, the first symptoms you see may be head pressing and walking around
aimlessly (because of failure of the liver to detoxify ammonia) or a severe
photosensitive skin problem (due to failure to conpletely process chlorophyll,
usually on white horses or white parts of
paints).
I am very impressed that you were able to nurse a horse back to health after it
suffered brain damage from yellow star thistle. I did not know that could be
done. You must be a great healer.