January 16, 2008

UK cows die of sweet potato poisoning

Six cows in the UK died after eating sweet potatoes in their ration, the first known case of sweet potato poisoning in animals throughout Britain.

The Food Standards Agency said the deaths occurred in a farm in East Anglia over four days among a group of 15 Limousin cross beef cattle fed with 7-kilogramme sweet potatoes each a day for more than a week in September.

Government vets explained that the potatoes may not have been stored properly in cool, dark and dry places, thus producing toxins which caused the poisoning.

UK farmers were urged to lessen the feeding of sweet potatoes to their animals despite being a cheaper option for high-energy food for cattle.