-Caveat Lector- Very interesting! I have never heard of this but will suggest a check for wild cherry trees near grazing for they are prevalent in this area also. Odd we had no deaths as we had 90 degrees then three weeks later a "snow" like 3 inches of Icee or pure slush. Foals here are fine and frisky. I do see that tent caterpillar from time to time, also. So yet another way the weather influences all things. ~Amelia~ Kentucky Horse Deaths Blamed On Caterpillars 5-27-1 LEXINGTON, Ky. (Reuters) - The illness that caused hundreds of Kentucky mares to miscarry or deliver stillborn foals has been traced to caterpillars which had eaten cherry tree leaves tainted with naturally occurring cyanide, officials said on Friday. Unusually high levels of the poison in populous black cherry trees was somehow transferred to the mares -- possibly through feces from Eastern tent caterpillars in bluegrass pastures -- and killed the unborn horses in the womb. Roughly one out of 20 foals due to be born this spring died, and next year's foal crop may be cut sharply, causing at least $225 million in lost foal sales and stud fees in Kentucky's $1 billion annual horse industry. "Mare reproductive loss syndrome," the name given to the illness that peaked earlier this month, has subsided recently, veterinarians said. Breeders had taken desperate measures such as delivering foals early and keeping mares out of their famed bluegrass pastures. Originally, scientists had thought toxin-producing molds had attacked pastures, which in turn had caused the reproductive problem in the mares. But scientists told breeders on Thursday that the cause of the foal deaths was likely the caterpillar and the cyanide-producing trees, and that the problem was safely past. In future, horse breeders could take precautions when caterpillar populations are heavy, such as restricting grazing, University of Kentucky Agriculture Department spokesman Haven Miller said in a telephone interview. "The unusual weather pattern could have caused the cyanide levels in the trees to be higher," Miller said. "We had a similar problem in 1980-81," when many unexplained horse deaths occurred. This spring featured similarly warm, dry weather followed by a sudden frost, which not only damaged pastures but may have increased the poison content in the trees. Breeders have known about the cyanide content in cherry trees, and some chop them down. Agronomists had reported a heavy infestation of Eastern tent caterpillars this spring, which spread webbing in the branches and can defoliate trees. "If confirmed, this working hypothesis would lead to a very positive outlook for prediction and prevention of recurrence of mare reproductive loss syndrome," Scott Smith, dean of the University of Kentucky's College of Agriculture, told the breeders. MainPage http://www.rense.com This Site Served by TheHostPros <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
