Leafy spurge irritates the mouth and digestive tract of cattle.
Hereford, Angus, and crossbred calves show no signs of irritation when leafy spurge or potentially harmful chemicals in spurge are applied to skin, lips, mouths, throats, and organs of gastrointestinal tracts. The presence of leafy spurge influences foraging behavior of cattle. Leafy spurge had less protein, more phosphorus, and was generally less digestible than alfalfa. The Fire Effects Information System focuses mainly on interactions of invasive species with fire. This section summarizes current information on methods of control, but it is not a comprehensive evaluation.