Are carrot tops poisonous to cattle?

Answer 1

YES, carrot tops do contain toxins!!

It is unlikely your animal will be poisoned by feeding them a small amount of carrot top, however, if your animal has been eating any other alkaloid based plants such as "dog fennel" they could become sick and die from alkaloid poisoning!

We received a sick baby goat from someone who had no real food in their field, only dog fennel and mint. The goat was thin, drooling and had diarrhea. He had alkaloid poisoning from eating dog fennel!! Poor things throat was so sore it could hardly swallow and we had to force feed it. He was doing fine for a week, eating lots of leaves, drinking and putting on a little weight. At our farm we had very small amounts in from of the barn and he would go right for the smelly weed though none of our goats eat it at all. We pulled every drop we could find within his reach. I puled some carrots out of the garden and mom offered them to the goats who turned their noses up at them, all of them except the baby goat. Within hours he was in distress again with the same symptoms. I searched the internet and discovered carrot tops can cause alkaloid poisoning, just like dog fennel!! Poor goat died, within 24 hours of eating the carrot tops, from alkaloid poisoning.

So, YES, carrot tops can be poisonous to goats and cows!!