Ragwort, Omagh

Image: © Kenneth Allen Taken: 12 Aug 2007

The locals here call it "benweed" and it grows rampant in certain areas. Poisoning can occur at ANY time of the year Ragwort poisoning destroys the liver, leading to slow, painful death Poisonous to most animals but horses and cattle are most susceptible. Once symptoms have appeared in an affected animal little can be done and it will usually die. Acts in a cumulative fashion - a small amount eaten over a period of time is just as damaging as one large dose Animals eating 5 percent or more of their total daily diet of ragwort for periods exceeding 20 consecutive days can be expected to die within a 6-month period. The plants - 1st year - rosette stage - most poisonous, 2nd year - stem/flower stage - each plant can produce 150,000 seeds, with a 70% germination rate. A horse can get ragwort poisoning without actually having any plants in their paddock! Seeds/spores from plants in neighbouring fields can blow over and contaminate a paddock apparently free from plants. A horse can eat or inhale these - and cumulative poisoning can begin.

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