Sheep and atypical myopathy

[Zan]

Does anyone know if it is safe--for the sheep-- to put them across paddocks to clean up sycamore seeds and seedlings. I've been trying to Google but can't find any info on whether they're poisonous to sheep. They don't seem to get atypical myopathy but I'm wondering if they could get liver damage from the toxin.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

No idea but my sheep clear up all sycamore debris for me, not lost any to liver failure yet.

 

[Zan]

No idea but my sheep clear up all sycamore debris for me, not lost any to liver failure yet.

Thanks for your reply. So do your sheep have free access to seeds and seedlings and have been okay?
I have no sycamores on my land but loads of them over the boundary so lots of helicopters blow in but they don't land in a way that makes raking them up possible--- it's hundreds of them scattered over. I have spent hours picking them up one by one but it's never ending and I can't face that every year. If sheep aren't harmed by them it seems the obvious answer, in which case it's weird that it's not being recommended everywhere.

 

[Birker2020]

Livestock deaths prompt warning over acorn poisoning risk - Farmers Weekly

Vets and farmers have warned of a sharp rise in cattle and sheep poisoning cases caused by a bumper crop of acorns and sycamore. The 2022 weather pattern

www.fwi.co.uk

The Accidental Smallholder Forum - Index - The Accidental Smallholder

The Accidental Smallholder Forum - Index

www.accidentalsmallholder.net

Horsetalk.co.nz

equine research and information

www.horsetalk.co.nz

 

[Zan]

Livestock deaths prompt warning over acorn poisoning risk - Farmers Weekly

Vets and farmers have warned of a sharp rise in cattle and sheep poisoning cases caused by a bumper crop of acorns and sycamore. The 2022 weather pattern

www.fwi.co.uk

The Accidental Smallholder Forum - Index - The Accidental Smallholder

The Accidental Smallholder Forum - Index

www.accidentalsmallholder.net

Horsetalk.co.nz

equine research and information

www.horsetalk.co.nz

Thank you-- I had actually found all three links myself. The first one is all about acorns apart from the headline, the second one didn't get me much further forward, and the third one wasn't very definite either, unless you have gnus

 

[Nudibranch]

We had a bumper crop of acorns this year, and a fair few maple seeds although I think maple is OK. Anyway the sheep and goats had access to them. The goats in particular absolutely devoured them with no issues although I was a bit wary. I did move the horses into another paddock when the acorns really came down, think 2-3 inches deep, though I know they were definitely eating some stray ones. I'd love to know why some get away with it whereas others have issues.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

No idea but my sheep clear up all sycamore debris for me, not lost any to liver failure yet.

Likewise!

 

[Errin Paddywack]

We also have two small oak trees and I noticed they had a lot of acorns this year. I had one particular sheep, luckily a very distinctive one, that was always to be found grazing under the oaks but have seen no problems with her. We have three sycamores down one side which unfortunately aren't in a place where we can fell them. Two usually fruit very well but the sheep (I assume) clear up the seedlings. Some of my sheep are up to 9 yrs old and still with us. Of course it may be that our trees aren't a problem anyway.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

We also have two small oak trees and I noticed they had a lot of acorns this year. I had one particular sheep, luckily a very distinctive one, that was always to be found grazing under the oaks but have seen no problems with her. We have three sycamores down one side which unfortunately aren't in a place where we can fell them. Two usually fruit very well but the sheep (I assume) clear up the seedlings. Some of my sheep are up to 9 yrs old and still with us. Of course it may be that our trees aren't a problem anyway.

We had 3 pts aged 12 last yr, because of problems with arthritis and deafness, no signs of myopathy.

 

[Horseysheepy]

We lost about 8 ewes to acorns last summer, not sure about sycamore poisoning in sheep though.
Our farm has lots of oaks trees and it just wasn't practical to fence them all off, so a local farmer said to increase the flock so the acorns will be eaten by more sheep, so intake per ewe, will be lower.
Some sheep just get a taste for things and will actively seek and gorge on it.

 

[SpotsandBays]

What about ringing/emailing your local farm vet for their thoughts?

 

[rabatsa]

In my Poisonous Plants in Britain and their effects on Animals and Man, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Reference book 161 published in 1984, sycamore does not even appear in the index.

 

[Zan]

What about ringing/emailing your local farm vet for their thoughts?

I have done that and they said they didn't think sycamore would be a problem, but I think that was more based on the fact there are sheep everywhere and there are sycamores everywhere, not on any actual fact. They did qualify it by saying maybe if a particular sheep ate a huge amount it could damage their liver, so basically they don't know. Farmers are always finding the odd sheep dead for no apparent reason, of having sheep that fail to thrive, but they don't investigate why, so I don't feel entirely reassured.

 

[Zan]

In my Poisonous Plants in Britain and their effects on Animals and Man, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Reference book 161 published in 1984, sycamore does not even appear in the index.

They weren't aware how dangerous sycamore was for equines then, so maybe they are yet to find that it's poisonous for sheep.

 

[SpotsandBays]

I have done that and they said they didn't think sycamore would be a problem, but I think that was more based on the fact there are sheep everywhere and there are sycamores everywhere, not on any actual fact. They did qualify it by saying maybe if a particular sheep ate a huge amount it could damage their liver, so basically they don't know. Farmers are always finding the odd sheep dead for no apparent reason, of having sheep that fail to thrive, but they don't investigate why, so I don't feel entirely reassured.

Interesting! I have sheep but no sycamore nearby so can’t comment on it. There’s a few large sheep farming groups on Facebook, could be worth popping it on there and seeing if anybody has ever noticed it being an issue with their flock

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Personally I wouldn't worry about it. There are so very many things sheep can die of that worrying about sycamore poisoning is pointless. If they can't come up with a disease they will hang themselves or get stuck on their backs, even drowned if suitable water source.

 

[Merrymoles]

Following with interest as the yard sheep are currently on the sycamore field that becomes our summer grazing. We are always paranoid about it so am hoping the sheep will do a good job and still be fine.

We also had a lot of acorns in that field in the autumn and the horses did start to eat them, which led to a quick relocation, so I am hoping the sheep clear those too.

 

[dorsetladette]

we've lost 1 sheep to acorn poisoning and nearly lost another one (we only had 4 to start with). I try to keep then away until the acorns have turned brown and started to rot down.