Can Horses Eat Sunflower Stalks?

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Robby

While you might know exactly what your horse can eat, they’re not always the best at judging what’s safe and what isn’t. Whether your horse is on a ride or wandering around the paddock, it’s likely that they’ll graze on a few plants they see while they’re out and about.

Many plants are safe for your horse to eat, and they’ll happily munch along with no issues. However, some plants have the potential to be poisonous to horses if they consume them, so it’s important that you’re aware of them and inspect your pasture to keep your equine friends safe.

Sunflowers are a common sight in gardens and fields, with their bright yellow petals and tall stalks towering over other plants. But what about after the flowers fade and the seeds are harvested? Can horses safely snack on the left behind sunflower stalks? Let’s explore the pros and cons of feeding sunflower stalks to horses.

Are Sunflower Stalks Toxic to Horses?

The good news is sunflower stalks are not poisonous or toxic to horses. Both the fibrous stalks and wider leaves of the sunflower plant are non-toxic for equine consumption.

Sunflowers belong to the Asteraceae family which includes other horse-safe plants like daisies and chamomile. So horses can nibble on sunflower foliage without risk of toxicity.

Of course, always double check the specific sunflower variety being grown. Some ornamental types may potentially contain higher alkaloid levels. But generally, common sunflower stalks don’t pose toxicity threats to horses.

Nutritional Value of Sunflower Stalks

While not poisonous sunflower stalks don’t offer tremendous nutritional value for horses either.

The stalks and stems of sunflowers are predominantly fiber. This provides some roughage for healthy digestion. But sunflower stems contain mostly structural cellulose that horses can’t derive many nutrients from.

The wider sunflower leaves contain a bit more nutritional value, providing vitamins A, C, D, E, and B-complex as well as minerals like calcium, potassium, iron, and zinc.

So while horses can get some vitamins and minerals from sunflower leaves, the stalks themselves have limited nutritional content. The seeds hold the highest concentration of nutrients.

Potential Benefits of Feeding Sunflower Stalks

While low in nutrients, sunflower stalks can still offer a few potential benefits for horses:

  • Added Forage – The stalks provide extra roughage and fiber for gut health.

  • Enrichment – Horses enjoy exploring new objects Stalks can provide enrichment

  • Supplement Grazing – Stalk grazing extends pasture time for bored horses.

  • Hide Supplements – Hollow stalks can hold supplements or medications.

  • Natural Treats – Stalks provide a non-toxic, natural treat alternative.

  • Use Waste – Stalks are biodegradable waste after harvesting seeds. Letting horses nibble on them repurposes leftover vegetation.

Potential Downsides of Feeding Sunflower Stalks

While generally safe, here are some potential downsides to horses eating sunflower stalks:

  • Low Nutrition – Stalks have very limited nutritional value, so should not replace hay or grain.

  • Choking Risk – Long, stringy stalks could potentially pose a choke risk if swallowed inadequately chewed.

  • Pesticides – Sunflowers may have been treated with toxic herbicides or pesticides. Know the stalk’s history.

  • Excessive Eating – Large amounts of stalks could lead to intestinal upset. Feed in moderation.

  • Debris Risk – Mechanically harvested stalks may contain bits of metal or debris. Inspect before feeding.

The Verdict on Feeding Sunflower Stalks

In conclusion, sunflower stalks are non-toxic for horses but provide minimal nutritional value. They can be fed safely in moderation as a supplement but not as a mainstay food source. Stalks offer added forage and enrichment, but require monitoring to prevent overconsumption, choking, or exposure to chemicals. When fed responsibly in limited amounts, sunflower stalks can be a safe way to add variety to a horse’s diet.

can horses eat sunflower stalks

Are lilacs poisonous to horses?

Most species of lilacs, such as common lilac, are not considered toxic and are safe for your horse to eat. However, Persian lilac can be poisonous if consumed. For this reason, it’s a good idea to keep your horse or pony from eating any lilac bushes.

Poisonous plants for horses

Atypical myopathy (from sycamore poisoning) and acorn poisoning are the most common types of poisoning in horses, but there are many other plants here in the UK that can also be dangerous. To keep your horse safe and healthy, it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the different plants and trees that can be toxic to horses, so you can avoid them.

Some of the most common toxic plants that you’ll find here in the UK include:

  • Alsike clover
  • Bluebells
  • Bracken fern
  • Buttercups
  • Charlock
  • Cherry trees (including wild and black cherry)
  • Curly dock leaves
  • Daffodils
  • Deadly nightshade
  • Foxgloves
  • Hawkweed
  • Hemlock (also called cow bane)
  • Horse chestnut tree (conkers)
  • Horsetails
  • Ivy
  • Laburnum
  • Larkspur
  • Laurel
  • Lily of the valley
  • Maple trees
  • Meadow saffron
  • Monkshood
  • Mistletoe
  • Oak trees and acorns
  • Pear trees
  • Pigweed
  • Privet
  • Pyracantha (also called firethorn)
  • Ragweed
  • Rhododendron
  • St. John’s Wort
  • Sycamore
  • Wisteria
  • Yew

You can read more about these plants, including what they look like, where they’re found, and the symptoms of poisoning in the table below.

Plant name Appearance Where is it found? Symptoms
Alsike clover Pastures, fields, roadsides, and wasteland.
  • Photosensitisation
  • Head pressing
  • Yawning
  • Recumbency
  • Skin irritation
  • Jaundice
  • Weight loss
Bluebells Woodland, hedgerows, and gardens.
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhoea
  • Lack of urination
  • Hypotension (blood pressure with a MAP of less than 60 mm Hg)
Bracken fern Woodlands, heathland, moorland, and on hillsides, as well as the roadside.
  • Nervousness or agitation
  • Muscle spasms
  • Falling
  • Unsteady gait
  • A ‘tucked up’ appearance of the flanks
  • Loss of appetite
  • Constipation
  • Diluted pupils
  • Irregular heartbeat
Buttercups Pastures, meadows, woodland, roadsides.
  • Excessive salivation
  • Diarrhoea
  • Colic
  • Convulsions
  • Blisters in and around the mouth
  • Blood in urine
  • Loss of appetite
  • Low pulse rate
  • Paralysis
  • Swelling of the face
Charlock Fields, pastures, roadsides, and wasteland.
  • Diarrhoea
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Bloating
  • Frothing at the mouth
Cherry trees (including wild and black cherry) Woodland, hedgerows, parkland, and gardens.
  • Irregular heart rate
  • Laboured breathing
  • Lack of coordination
  • Agitation
  • Excessive salivation
  • Trembling or shaking
  • Dilated pupils
Curly dock leaves Grassland, roadsides, wasteland.
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Lack of coordination
  • Loss of appetite
  • Muscle tremors
  • Weakness
  • Convulsions
  • Erratic behaviour
  • Excessive salivation
  • Recumbency
Daffodils Woodlands, parkland, roadsides, and gardens.
  • Lack of coordination
  • Convulsions
  • Diarrhoea
  • Excessive salivation
  • Hypotension (blood pressure with a MAP of less than 60 mm Hg)
  • Tremors
  • Photosensitivity
  • Dehydration
  • Irregular heart rate
Deadly nightshade Woodland, grassland, heathland, and moorland.
  • Irregular heart rate
  • Diarrhoea
  • Loss of appetite
  • Lack of coordination
Foxglove Woodlands, heathlands, roadsides, gardens, and hedgerows.
  • Small pupils
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Convulsions
  • Swelling around the face or neck
  • Strong and slow heartbeat
  • Weakness
Hawkweed Grassland.
  • Unsteady gait
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Bending of the hock
  • Knuckling over (straightened fetlock)
Hemlock (also called cowbane) Riverbanks, ditches, and wasteland.
  • Trembling
  • Confusion and disorientation
  • Lack of coordination
  • Frequent urination
  • Diarrhoea
  • Seizures
  • Bloating
  • Irregular heart rate
  • Dilated pupils
Horse chestnut (conkers) Woodlands, parkland, and roadsides.
  • Loss of muscle control
  • Convulsions
  • Tremors
  • Hypersensitivity
  • Colic
Horsetails Meadows, wasteland, and grassland.
  • Loss of balance
  • Loss of muscle control
  • Nervousness and anxiety
  • Paralysis
  • Weight loss
  • Staggering
  • Convulsions
  • Inability to stand
Ivy Woodland, scrubland, wasteland.
  • Colic
  • Diarrhoea
  • Dehydration
  • Irritation around the mouth
  • Loss of appetite
  • Excessive salivation
  • Fever
  • Weakness
Laburnum Parkland and gardens.
  • Muscle spasms
  • Convulsions
  • Lack of coordination
Larkspur Parks and gardens. Very rarely grows in the wild in the UK.
  • Muscle tremors
  • Weakness
  • Irritability
  • Stiffness
  • Confusion
  • Constipation
  • Collapse
  • Nausea
  • Bloating
  • Irregular heart rate
  • Seizures
Laurel Woodland and hedgerows.
  • Irregular heart rate
  • Diarrhoea
  • Excessive salivation
  • Hypotension (blood pressure with a MAP of less than 60 mm Hg)
  • Weakness
  • Tremors
  • Seizures
  • Blindness
  • Lethargy
  • Loss of appetite
  • Difficulty breathing
Lily of the valley Woodland and gardens.
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhoea
  • Vomiting
  • Weight loss
  • Weakness
  • Sleepiness
  • Muscle tremors
  • Convulsions
  • Hypotension (blood pressure with a MAP of less than 60 mm Hg)
  • Irregular or rapid heart rate
Maple trees Woodland, scrubland, and hedgerows.
  • Lack of appetite
  • Dark urine
  • Lethargy
  • Colic
  • Increased heart rate
  • Heavy or rapid breathing
Meadow saffron On damp meadows, by riverbanks, or in woodland.
  • Colic
  • Diarrhoea
  • Weakness
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Lack of coordination
  • Irregular gait
  • Extreme thirst
Monkshood Woodland and gardens.
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Irregular or rapid breathing
  • Excessive salivation
  • Weakness
  • Hypotension (blood pressure with a MAP of less than 60 mm Hg)
  • Collapse
Mistletoe On the branches of other trees, particularly hawthorn, poplar, lime, and apple trees.
  • Diarrhoea
  • Colic
  • Hypotension (blood pressure with a MAP of less than 60 mm Hg)
  • Convulsions
Oak trees and acorns Woodland, fields, hedgerows, gardens, and parkland.
  • Diarrhoea or constipation
  • Colic
  • Loss of appetite
  • Foaming at the mouth
  • Irritation around the mouth
  • Frequent urination
  • Excessive salivation
  • Watery eyes
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Swelling around the face and neck
  • High temperature
  • Irregular heart rate
Pear trees Orchards, gardens, and parkland.
  • Colic
  • Diarrhoea
Pigweed Fields and gardens.
  • Weakness
  • Tremors
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Swelling around the face and neck
Privet Scrubland, woodland, and hedgerows.
  • Diarrhoea
  • Weak pulse
  • Low temperature
  • Increased heart rate
  • Lack of coordination
  • Staggering
  • Convulsions
  • Paralysis
  • Dilated pupils
Pyracantha (also called firethorn) Hedgerows and gardens.
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Anxiety
  • Confusion
  • Vomiting
Ragwort Pastures, sand dunes, roadsides, and wasteland.
  • Colic
  • Diarrhoea or constipation
  • Lack of coordination
  • Sensitivity to sunlight
  • Head pressing
  • Blindness
  • Collapse
Rhododendron Woodland and heathland.
  • Colic
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Diarrhoea
  • Excessive salivation
  • Loss of appetite
  • Paralysis
  • Seizures
  • Lack of coordination
  • Weakness
St. John’s Wort Woodland, grassland, and roadsides.
  • Diarrhoea
  • Dilated pupils
  • Sensitivity to sunlight
  • Swelling of the skin
  • Irritation or blistering of the skin
  • Itching
  • Lethargy
  • Lameness
Sycamore Woodland, hedgerows, and parkland.
  • Muscle stiffness
  • Sweating
  • Increased heart rate
  • Dark urine
  • Muscle tremors
  • Reluctance to walk
  • Weakness
  • Difficulty breathing
Wisteria Parkland and gardens.
  • Loss of appetite
  • Extreme thirst
  • Dehydration
  • Diarrhoea
  • Nausea
  • Colic
Yew Woodland and hedgerows (particularly in churchyards).
  • Diarrhoea
  • Lack of muscle control
  • Trembling
  • Nervousness
  • Convulsions
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Low heart rate
  • Collapse

Feeding horses sunflower stalks #shorts

FAQ

Can horses eat sunflower plants?

Yes, horses can safely eat sunflower plants and seeds. Sunflowers, including their seeds, are considered non-toxic to horses.

What are the two most serious poisonous plants for horses?

Poison Hemlock and Water Hemlock: Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) and water hemlock (Cicuta species) are both very toxic to horses. They are often found in moist areas and exude an unpleasant, parsnip-like odor when cut.

Why feed sunflower to horses?

Sunflower oil is commonly added to horse diets to boost calorie intake, helping underweight horses gain weight or maintain their current condition.Aug 29, 2024

Can cattle eat sunflower stalks?

Sunflower residue is useful for aftermath grazing by beef cows. Nutritional value of the head is greater than the stalk. Supplementation may be required if the volume of residue is limited and nutrient quality decreases rapidly after head material is consumed.

Can horses eat sunflower seeds?

Admittedly, the gelding’s coat is lustrous, but she also grooms like there’s no tomorrow. Are sunflower seeds safe to feed my horse, and will they improve coat condition? Sunflower seeds are safe for horses, and horses eat them readily. Horsemen typically add them to a horse’s ration to supplement fat in an effort to bolster coat condition.

Are sunflowers toxic to horses?

No, sunflowers are not toxic to horses. Sunflowers are a healthy addition to a horse’s diet, providing them with a source of vitamins A and E, as well as fatty acids. Sunflower seeds can be a good source of energy for horses in the form of oil, but should be fed in moderation.

Can you add sunflower seeds to a horse’s ration?

Horsemen typically add them to a horse’s ration to supplement fat in an effort to bolster coat condition. Though your friend also tends to her horse’s coat by thorough grooming, the supplemental fat likely improves shine and texture. When choosing sunflower seeds, select black oil sunflower seeds, which are those common in birdseed.

How do I choose the best Sunflowers for horse feed?

When choosing sunflowers for horse feed, it is important to pick high-quality, mature seeds. Look for sunflowers that are plump and have a dry outer shell. Avoid using sunflowers that have mold or mildew growth.

Do horses eat oats?

Oats, barley, and corn have been an important part of a horse’s diet since the beginning of time but the majority of horse owners these days are upgrading the horse’s platters with seeds. Flax (linseed), chia, sunflower, and hemp seed have become a prominent part of the horse’s weekly diet.

Can horses eat food?

Remember, though: individual horses, like humans, can sometimes have unique allergies. Even if a food is on this list marked as “safe for horses,” you should test it on your horse in very small amounts first and see how they react if they’ve never tried it before. Beer (yes, beer! If you cook the treats, it removes the alcohol.)

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