LETTER: Animals at risk from ragwort
Dr Kent Brooks says that 'animals do not eat ragwort', (Letters, October 29, 'Response to ragwort issue').
Richard Mabey, in his book Flora Britannica (1996), says that "horses and other animals will eat ragwort when it is dry.
"It causes irreversible cirrhosis of the liver, fresh or dry, and is fatal to cattle".
The Ministry of Agriculture says that it "causes half the livestock poisoning in the United Kingdom".
He cites A.A. Forsyth's book British Poisonous Plants (1968).
Until the 1981 Act, it was indeed an offence not to clear it. Its exemption under the Act is probably an oversight.
Jeremy Godwin
Penrith
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel