As the days grow warmer, it’s time to consider grazing and the plants growing on pastures. One such flower that appears everywhere in Hardin County is the yellow buttercup.
Buttercup, also known as the weed buttercup, is highly toxic to horses and cattle due to its strong bitter taste which often deters livestock from eating it. Furthermore, its toxins cause salivation, skin irritation and blisters in the mouth.
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Toxicity
Kentucky boasts over 30 species of Ranunculus (buttercups), many of which can be hazardous to livestock. Buttercups contain ranunculin which hydrolyzes into protoanemonin when chewed or grazed by animals.
Protoanemonin is a vesicant that can cause blisters on skin, mouth and digestive system. This plant poses an especially serious risk to cattle while they graze because they may ingest large quantities of it and experience convulsions or even death.
Tall buttercup is an invasive perennial that can take over pastures. It begins blooming in June and grows up to 3 feet high.
Buttercups are typically avoided by cattle due to their bitter taste and toxic toxins which can irritate stomach and intestines. Unfortunately, it may be difficult for grazing animals to avoid large stands of this weed in overgrazed pastures.
Thankfully, buttercup flowers can be converted to hay and the toxic effect is removed. Additionally, grazing or herbicide applications will eliminate this toxin.
Grazing Impact
When livestock consume buttercup plants, they produce ranunculin which forms a toxic toxin. This poisonous agent causes salivation, skin irritation, blisters, abdominal distress and inflammation.
Horses and other grazing animals, particularly in early spring when feed is scarce, may become highly toxic when exposed to this toxin through various means such as chewing or crushing plants.
Buttercup can thrive on a variety of soils, but is especially common in wet areas such as lawns, meadows and pastures that receive ample water. It also spreads along gravel-based surfaces like beaches or salt marshes as well as along tidal estuaries’ margins.
Control of this pest requires both cultivation and eradication. Digging is most effective when the ground is moistened, as roots won’t break off as easily. However, results take several years to manifest themselves; begin in less infested areas first then expand your efforts into more heavily affected regions as needed.
Management Impact
Buttercups are perennial pasture weeds that bloom from March to August. They emerge from seed or corm during the fall and winter, creating a low-growing thick carpet of foliage which bolts in early spring with five-petalled flowers with crowfoot-shaped leaves divided into three sections.
Livestock generally steer clear of fresh buttercup plants due to the toxic oil protoanthmonin present, which causes salivation, skin irritation, blistering, intestinal distress, inflammation and diarrhea in livestock. Fortunately, once dry, however, this toxin loses its potency.
Cattle sometimes develop a taste for buttercup and choose it over other available forage sources, according to University of Missouri Extension field specialist in agronomy Sarah Kenyon. “Buttercup can be fatal for cattle,” she cautioned.
A successful pasture management program can prevent buttercup invasions while encouraging the growth of desirable grasses and legumes. Regular soil testing, liming, fertilizing are essential practices that must be combined with good grazing management and mowing to prevent the spread of unwanted buttercup seeds to un-infested areas.
Control
All buttercups, including tall (Ranunculus acris), bulbous (Ranunculus bulbosus), and creeping varieties, are poisonous to livestock when consumed. When eaten, their toxins cause mouth blisters and severe gastrointestinal irritation.
Controlling buttercup in the pasture involves overseeding, fertilizing as needed and avoiding overgrazing. Applying lime to improve grass health and prevent it from reestablishing itself can also help.
Buttercups can also be eliminated through manual weeding, usually between fall and spring when soil moisture levels are at their highest. Although this method requires more effort than usual, it may be effective in small areas.
Buttercup can also be controlled using herbicides registered for grass pastures that contain 2,4-D (GrazonNext, Duracor, Pursuit and Weedmaster). It’s best to apply these herbicides before flowers appear in order to maximize weed control effectiveness.
Additionally, glyphosate herbicide can be applied as a postemergence treatment after buttercup has been eliminated from pastures. This can be an effective control measure in areas where buttercup is the main weed issue.
