Coming soon to a field near you………RAGWORT! With bright yellow flowers, this plant may look pretty and add colour to the landscape but this plant is lethal and is threatening the welfare of our livestock. Ragwort is a highly poisonous weed and when ingested can cause severe liver damage resulting in a slow and painful death for our equines and other grazing animals. It is of great importance that an owner is able to recognise the signs of Ragwort poisoning. Symptoms include weight loss, lack of co-ordination, photosensitivity and blindness. If this weed is ingested in small amounts over a long period of time, it may be difficult to notice the symptoms. These signs are more prominent if an animal has eaten a large amount Ragwort in a short space of time. If you spot any these signs, it is vital you contact a veterinary surgeon immediately. All landowners have a responsibility to manage the growth and spread of Ragwort. The Ragwort Control Act 2003 supplies a Code of Conduct relating to the management of this weed, to help tackle this escalating problem. If you spot a plant you suspect to be Ragwort, remove it immediately by pulling or digging it up with the roots intact. Dispose of the offending weed being very careful to not allow the plant to spread it’s seed. Here at Bransby Horses we take our Ragwort eradication and control very seriously. Our land is sprayed in the spring and we carry out regular sweeps to check for any signs of growth. If individual plants are found, these are dug up carefully and destroyed. The welfare of our equines is paramount and by taking precautionary steps such as these, we ensure their health and safety continues.” For more information, please select the below link https://gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/69264/pb9840-cop-ragwort.pdf
Posted on: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 10:00:01 +0000
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