The ILPH has donated £8,000 of funding towards an 'early warning' blood test for horses that may be ingesting the poisonous weed, ragwort.
Dr Derek Knottenbelt and his team at Liverpool University's Equine Science Division have, over the past 5 years, been developing a simple blood test to detect the presence of ragwort toxins in a horse's blood, but it looked that his work may falter due to lack of funds.

Says ILPH Chief Executive John Smales, "We could not let all the good work that Derek and his team have done over the last five years go to waste because of lack of funds to finish their project. Anything that can be done to stop horses dying unnecessarily from ragwort poisoning is to be applauded."

Comments Derek Knottenbelt, "The ILPH funding has been an absolute lifesaver to be honest, no question about it. It has given impetus to the whole project and encouraged me to drive forward again. I am now optimistic that we will achieve our objective within the timescale."

Donations can be made by sending a cheque, payable to the University of Liverpool (Ragwort) to Dr D Knottenbelt, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Neston, Wirral CH64 7TE.

www.ilph.org

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