http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/projects/poison/plants/ppyew.htm
Evidently I was not awake when we covered this in college, it wasn't covered, or I don't remember it from 13 years ago. My father-in-law dumped some of these Yew clippings in the pasture that he owns, which is also where I winter my cattle. Anyhow I lost three 550lb steer calves out of my fall calving herd because they ingested enough of this to poison themselves. Was planning on weaning them this week and selling them either next week or in two weeks. This was an expensive lesson, and I feel like an idiot for not knowing that this plant was poisinous to cattle. I was choring when he went into the pasture to dump them. Why he didn't dump them in the ditch by his house I don't know, but I should have known anyway.
Luckily I caught it within about 12 hours of them being dumped, and I kept the death loss at a minimum. I pass this on so others don't have to learn the hard way like I did. Don't dump anything that is not natural for cattle to eat where they can get access to it.
Evidently I was not awake when we covered this in college, it wasn't covered, or I don't remember it from 13 years ago. My father-in-law dumped some of these Yew clippings in the pasture that he owns, which is also where I winter my cattle. Anyhow I lost three 550lb steer calves out of my fall calving herd because they ingested enough of this to poison themselves. Was planning on weaning them this week and selling them either next week or in two weeks. This was an expensive lesson, and I feel like an idiot for not knowing that this plant was poisinous to cattle. I was choring when he went into the pasture to dump them. Why he didn't dump them in the ditch by his house I don't know, but I should have known anyway.
Luckily I caught it within about 12 hours of them being dumped, and I kept the death loss at a minimum. I pass this on so others don't have to learn the hard way like I did. Don't dump anything that is not natural for cattle to eat where they can get access to it.
