Joe Barry: How to make sure your livestock don’t die from sycamore or acorn poisoning

I have heard of several ponies dying on farms not far from where I live, the cause being identified as sycamore seed poisoning.

A few years ago a few broodmares died at stud farms near me and this can happen anywhere these trees grow near paddocks.

The worrying thing is that many breeder owners are unaware of the dangers. I’ve kept horses and ponies most of my life, but it’s only in the last ten years that I’ve realized this threat to their well-being.

Perhaps animals have gotten sick in the past and sometimes died without the cause being properly identified.

Such events are relatively rare, but vigilance is clearly warranted.

The loss of an animal is serious, but we must prevent the loss of a valuable broodmare or a beloved children’s pony at all costs.

In the fall, especially when grass is scarce, horses are more likely to eat seeds lying on the ground.

In addition, ponies are often kept on bare ground to prevent the occurrence or recurrence of laminitis, which can be dangerous with plane trees in adjacent hedges.

A dry autumn appears to be particularly risky, as seeds are then plentiful and more likely to be accidentally consumed.

Atypical myopathy, which is sometimes fatal, can occur when a toxin, hypoglycine A, found in sycamore seeds is ingested.

In some years, horses are more at risk due to a biennial increase in the levels of toxins contained in semen.

This can also occur in warmer summers, possibly due to increased seed production – perhaps climate change is making the problem worse.

Whatever the cause, sycamore seed consumption can pose a real threat to a horse’s health, so vigilance is required when checking for their presence near paddocks, and perhaps even removing them in certain cases .

With the recent announcement of a raft of new tree planting plans, selecting species close to rangeland is important, especially given the dangers some of them can pose to livestock.

Oak, the tree most often mentioned by those promoting the cultivation of native species, is another tree that can pose a risk due to the production of tannins, or tannic acid, in the acorns and leaves.

Acorn poisoning is most common in sheep, but can also affect cattle, horses, and goats. There is no specific treatment.

For centuries, pigs have happily grazed on acorns in forests – these are prized for fattening in the fall.

However, we should be aware of any potential risks to the other endangered species. As always, consult your veterinarian for advice and best practices in choosing grazing areas and which tree species to avoid.