Garden Q&A: Are Wild Cherry trees poisonous to livestock
A flowering branch of wild cherry tree (Prunus avium).
Wild cherry trees (Prunus avium) can be poisonous to livestock like cattle and horses, particularly when leaves, bark or twigs are wilted after pruning or storm damage. These parts can release hydrogen cyanide as they break down, which is highly toxic if ingested.
While animals often have a natural instinct to avoid harmful plants, it’s not something you can rely on. The biggest risk is really when prunings are mixed with familiar fodder.
While healthy leaves aren’t very appealing, wilted ones can be more palatable, and animals may eat them out of curiosity or hunger, especially if food is scarce. Horses are generally more selective, but cattle are particularly at risk.
Ripe cherries themselves aren’t a major concern, though the stones do contain cyanide compounds. Always fence off cherry trees in grazing areas and remove any prunings or fallen branches promptly. It’s far safer to manage the risk than to deal with the consequences.
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