Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris or Senecio jacobaea) is a biennial (sometimes annual or perennial) herbaceous flowering plant. It is considered an invasive weed in most parts of the world and is well known for its poisonous effects on livestock over the years. It is recognized by its daisy-like yellow flowers, which contain 13 petals. Ragwort has erect, unbranched stems that grow up to 4 feet in height and branch near their tips. As a biennial, tansy ragwort spends the first year in the rosette stage with dark green basal leaves that appear ruffled. During the second year, one or two flowering stems form.
Toxic components
Ragwort contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (jacobine, eruifoline, and senecionine) which can cause liver damage in poultry, when consumed over a period of time. Unfortunately, clinical signs take a while to become apparent, which is usually after liver damage is advanced and irreversible.
- lethargy
- aimlessly wandering
- depression
- chronic weight loss
- photosensitization
- weakness
- listlessness
- diarrhea
- blindness
- circling
- death
MANUAL CONTROL: Ragwort can be controlled through hand pulling plants from the soil. However the entire root needs to be removed in order to prevent regrowth. Plants are easiest to remove after plants have bolted but prior to flowering, and following a rainfall when the soil is moist and easier to break through.
MECHANICAL CONTROL: Mowing is not an effective method of control for ragwort.
CHEMICAL CONTROL: Research results show that tansy ragwort can be controlled with 2,4-D (low volatile ester or emulsifiable acid) at 0.5-1.0 kg pounds active ingredient per acre, or by dicamba at 0.23 to 0.5 kg active ingredient per acre. Tansy ragwort should be sprayed in the rosette stage. Both herbicides will injure or kill legumes.
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL: The tansy ragwort flea beetle, Longitarsus jacobaeae, larvae and adults are attack tansy ragwort. Larvae feed on and within the roots and the adults feed on leaves. The ragwort seedhead fly, Botanophila seneciella, larvae feed within seedheads, often destroying all of the developing seeds. The cinnabar moth, Tyria jacobaeae, caterpillars can completely defoliate tansy ragwort.
- D B. Garcia Jorgensen Jacobine - one of the reasons behind the toxicity of ragwort University of Copenhagen (2018)
- Toxic plants ASPCA (2014)
- Cortinovis C, Caloni F. Epidemiology of intoxication of domestic animals by plants in Europe Veterinary Journal (2013)
- Petzinger E. [Pyrrolizidine alkaloids and seneciosis in farm animals. Part 1: occurrence, chemistry and toxicology]. Tierarztl Prax Ausg G Grosstiere Nutztiere (2011)
- Crews C, Anderson WA Detection of ragwort alkaloids in toxic hay by liquid chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry Veterinary Record (2009)
- Helena Modra and Zdenka Svobodova Incidence of animal poisoning cases in the Czech Republic: current situation Interdisiplinry Toxicoloy (2009)
- de Lanux-Van Gorder V. Tansy ragwort poisoning in a horse in southern Ontario Canadian Veterinary Journal (2000)
- Cook RR. Ragwort poisoning Veterinary Record (1999)
- Small AC, Kelly WR, Seawright AA, Mattocks AR, Jukes R. Pyrrolizidine alkaloidosis in a two month old foal Zentralbl Veterinarmed A (1993)
- Milne EM, Pogson DM, Doxey DL. Secondary gastric impaction associated with ragwort poisoning in three ponies Veterinary Record (1990)
- Calore, E. E. Toxicity of Senecio jacobaea and pyrrolizidine alkaloids in various laboratory animals and avian species. Toxicol Lett, 18(3), 343-349 (1983)
- Gopinath, C.; Ford, E. J. H. The effect of ragwort (Senecio jacobea) on the liver of the domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus): A histopathological and enzyme histochemical study. Br Poult Sci, 18(2), 137-141 (1977)
- Buckmaster, G. W.; Cheeke, P. R.; Arscott, G. H.; Dickinson, E. O.; Pierson, M. L.; Shull, L. R. Response of Japanese quail to dietary and injected pyrrolizidine (Senecio) alkaloid. J Anim Sci, 45(6), 1322-1325 (1977)
