Lawn clippings

[Colin]

Recently started renting an additional grazing field and, in the corner, the owner has dumped a pile of fresh lawn mower clippings. I know this is not good for horses, any risk to cattle ?

Regards,

Colin

[monica a waltho]

We have always fed lawn clippings to cattle but they were our own depends whether there is anything else in with them or they have spray etc on them.It may be worth having a word with owner to see if thats the case or could he put them somewhere else.
As you say they are dangerous to horses but as long as fresh cattle love them.

[ann]

The minute the lawn mower is started at our house the dexters arrive in the nearest field waiting for all the clippings, but I do know all our grass is safe and if any gets left i spread it around so that is does not heat.

[Boofarm]

We do not feed lawn clippings to cattle but our neighbour does - we live in a small village, really just a row of houses.

As soon as you start the lawnmower the neighbours simmentals are across and leaning on the dyke trying to reach into the compost bin. Never heard that any of them took any harm yet

Cheers
mac

[Duncan MacIntyre]

I am very intolerant of dumping of garden rubbish in fields. I have seen too many horses either seriously ill or dead as a result. Those doing it are not in charge of the stock using the field. They may not think there are any horses present, but there may be horses not seen or may be added after they have dumped their rubbish. Horses, not being ruminants, are very much more vulnerable to fatal damage from lawn clippings, but it is not always a good thing for cattle either.

My usual response if I know where it has come from is to speak to the perpetrator. If the offence is repeated, I return the clippings in a tidy fashion. If it is repeated again, tidyness is not the name of the game and I return the offending material scattered as widely as possible. The only time this was ignored I returned the next lot inside the ladies front porch, ringing her doorbell to explain. Not repeated after that.

Duncan