The Home of Rest for Horses has given a grant of £50,000 to the University of Liverpool to support research
into a cure for ragwort poisoning. This grant coincides with the successful passage through Parliament of the Ragwort
Control Act which will come into force on 20th February. This new legislation will provide a Code of Practice for
landowners and occupiers to prevent the spread of what might be one of the most common causes of poisoning of grazing
animals in the United Kingdom.
The grant from the Home of Rest for Horses will be used by Dr Derek Knottenbelt, Head of Research at the University of
Liverpool, to continue the development of a blood test to recognise ragwort poisoning in equines. Highly toxic to grazing
animals, but particularly to horses, this harmful weed killed an estimated 1,500 horses in the United Kingdom last year.
Ragwort poisoning is fatal, attacking the liver and causing a horrible and unnecessary death. Signs can be slow to develop,
with the result that 75% of the liver can be irreversibly damaged before the existence of the poisoning is evident.
To date there is no cure for ragwort poisoning, research having been held up through lack of funding. Dr Knottenbelt is
delighted with the grant from the Home of Rest for Horses. "We are really grateful to have received a realistic sum to allow
us to research this problem thoroughly," he says. "We hope to find a blood test for early detection of pre-clinical signs
of this appalling condition, the cause of which is often present in the feed and which is spreading rapidly."
Paul Jepson, Chief Executive of the Home of Rest for Horses, has no doubt about the importance of funding this research
programme. "With the ragwort weed spreading so alarmingly, we feel that it’s a matter of deep concern and needs urgent
action, despite all the other research which we are funding at the moment,” he says. "It slowly and irreversibly destroys
the liver and we need to establish a method of early detection."
For further information about ragwort click here
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Ragwort by the roadside
Horse suffering from Ragwort Poisoning
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