ned wrote:
"Janet Baraclough" wrote in message
...
The message
from (Neil Jones) contains these words:

However, what do the scientific data say? Well, there is
apparently
only one set of official statistics available. These official
Government statistics were published in the official State
Veterinary Journal.
Here they a (snip).

The SVJ is produced for DEFRA, I think?

More recent research has been carried out at Liverpool
University
animal hospital, and by the British Equine Veterinary Association,
both suggesting a much higher incidence than the figures you
quoted:
see

http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/co...gwort_appr.pdf

where DEFRA says

. "Whilst it is unsatisfactory not to have more
accurate data on the number of animal deaths, there is no dispute
that ragwort poisoning does present a serious health risk to
horses
and livestock, and may be a common cause of death."

Which is presumably why the Ragwort Control Act was brought into
force one year ago?

But it is not the first time that a government has acted on dubious
information!

I had a discussion with a vet who held the 'subjective' opinion
that
ragwort was the easy excuse for bad equine management. He claimed
he
had not seen a case of liver damage which could solely be
attributed
to ragwort poisoning. He had seen cases (plural) where nibbling of
creosoted stabling and rails, had proved fatal. And he also reeled
off
a list of other plants which would prove just as dangerous
(including
bracken, deadly nightshade, hemlock, yew, privet - these were just
the
'common sense' ones that I can remember). And let's not forget
mouldy
hay and too rich feeding leading to laminitis which can also prove
fatal.

Ragwort is just the scapegoat.

That does seem to be sensible. Stock won't generally eat it if
there's anything else, though hay and silage is a different matter.
But since it kills by causing cirrhosis of the liver, autopsy can't
establish for certain that ragwort was or was not the cause.
Self-sufficiencers should go to considerable trouble to make sure the
seeds don't get processed with cereals, whether they're for animal or
human consumption. The thing should be knocked out as far as
feasible, even if only as a precaution: I don't think any ragwort
species is endangered.

Mike.