THISTLEX - improve grazing by controlling thistles

Livestock avoid grazing near thistles. Improve sward productivity by using Thistlex* on grazing pastures.

Key points:

• Thistles are more common in: 
  • old swards (9-20 years old) 
  • low P, N, high K soils 
  • beef and sheep more than dairy enterprises
  • grazing swards, particularly if over- or under-grazed 
• The area taken up by weeds is not available for grazing 
• They compete with grass for water, nutrients and light 
• Thistles in hay and silage results in lower utilisation and increased wastage 
• Lower grazing pressure means lower yielding weed grasses will increase, leading to sward deterioration 
• Animals will not graze close to thistle plants 
• Thistles can cause mouth lesions in grazing sheep, increasing the risk of highly contagious infection
• Thistlex can give 80% control 12 months after application
• 7 day stock exclusion period
• 28 day cutting interval
• Excellent grass safety

Livestock avoid grazing an area of 30cm from the edge of every thistle rosette in the sward. A 5% thistle infestation can cause a 0.5t/ha
dry matter loss in grass yield, which will have a knock-on effect on the grazing and forage requirements for stock. The presence of a few
creeping thistles - Cirsium arvense - may just be the tip of the iceberg. Weed growth above the soil surface does not reflect the extensive
root system below ground.

Effective treatment is the key to weed control and this helps remove the conflict between thistles and livestock during the grazing season.
Many sheep farmers believe there is a strong link between thistle infestation and orf infections. Where high thistle populations coincide
with pressure on grazing, then livestock are forced to graze closer to the weeds. Thistles can irritate and damage ewes' and lambs'
mouths, which may then allow orf infection to take hold and develop.

Getting to the root of the problem is crucial: killing the roots is the only way to a thistle-free pasture. Thistlex has the ability to control the
roots of both creeping and spear thistles. On average, 80% control is possible a full 12 months after treatment.

For the best results thistles should be treated with 1.0l/ha of Thistlex in 200-400l/ha of water when they are actively growing and at the
rosette stage, showing 4 to 10 leaves and up to 20cm across or high. This timing ensures there is enough leaf area and rapid plant
growth for effective uptake of the herbicide. This is also important for maximum translocation of active ingredient to the root system.

Fields can be grazed 7 days after treatment but should not be cut for a minimum of 28 days. Where thistles have grown beyond the
recommended size, they should be cut and the regrowth treated with Thistlex. This is normally around 3 weeks after cutting.

Use Thistlex to control thistles and improve productivity of grazing swards.

Learn more about thistles  

Learn more about Thistlex