Tyndale Vets, who cover south west England and south Wales, issued a warning after ‘several cases’ of Hemlock Water Dropwort poisoning.
A vet at the practice confirmed that eight out of 42 cattle died in Bristol at the end of August, and there were two found dead the weekend before.
The practice said: “I imagine any areas that had been in drought were at similar risk of poisoning.
“This is because the water level in ditches are lower, so cattle are going deeper into ditches/digging for water. It can also occur after ditch dredging and removal of the plants that livestock can consume.
“The plant has these characteristic tuber roots and the flower itself can look similar to Cow Parsley, though the stem is firmer and woody.
“Please be vigilant and check any ditches for hemlock prior to putting livestock in the field. Wear gloves if removing hemlock. It is also still toxic if bailed into hay.”
READ MORE: Farmers warned of deadly hemlock as cattle die in south west
Signs of Hemlock Water Dropwort poisoning include:
- Rapid breathing
- Teeth grinding
- Muscle weakness
- And eventually, seizures and paralysis
Hemlock Water Dropwort poisoning can affect both sheep and cattle, and there is no treatment or cure.