Wanted: 500 pigs to save ponies from toxic acorns

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The Times September 14, 2006 Acorns are good for pigs but poisonous to New Forest ponies (Phil Yeomans/Bournemouth News) Wanted: 500 pigs to save ponies from toxic acornsBy Simon de Bruxelles OFFICIALS are desperately seeking hundreds of pigs to eat the millions of acorns that have fallen in New Forest before the fruits poison the area’s ponies. Forestry officials have appealed for more people to take part in the annual pannage tradition, in which pigs are released into the Hampshire forest to feast on green acorns. Normally only 200 pigs are needed for the 60-day forage, but an unusually mild spring and hot, dry summer has resulted in a glut of acorns, so 300 more are needed this year. Jonathan Gerrelli, New Forest’s head agister, said: “Acorns are poisonous to ponies and cattle. If they eat them they start to bleed internally and die a horrible death. “They are not toxic to pigs who enjoy feasting on them. Pannage is the only time of year they are free to roam anywhere in New Forest. They would cause too much damage if they were wild. “For the last couple of years we have had hardly any acorns on the forest floor and so haven’t needed that many pigs, but it was obvious in the summer there was a lot more fruit on the trees.” Pannage, or Common of Mast, stretches back to medieval times and allows commoners, as

landowners in the area are known, to graze pigs in the forest. The commoners pay a token fee of £1 for every pig they turn out. Each pig is marked with an identity tag on its ear and has a ring put through its nose to stop it causing damage to the forest. In the 19th century about 6,000 pigs took part in pannage, but nowadays only a few hundred turn out because the number of pigs owned by Commoners has fallen. Tony Kirkham, the head of arboretum at Kew Gardens, said: “It has been a bumper year for acorns. Oak trees tend to have a mast year — a cycle in which one year out of about five years they will produce a lot of fruit and then have a rest for the other years. So it is probably a combination of it being a mast year and the hot weather. “The heat ripens the wood and encourages flowering. We didn’t have much of a frost this spring, so that also helped.” Forestry officials will announce the starting date for pannage on September

20.Peter H

 

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Whats wrong with people eating them? I thought I read somewhere you can make flour out of them or something? Could be wrong but I think the Native Americans used too. namaste,Sky.peter VV <swpgh01 wrote: The

Times September 14, 2006 Acorns are good for pigs but poisonous to New Forest ponies (Phil Yeomans/Bournemouth News) Wanted: 500 pigs to save ponies from toxic acornsBy Simon de Bruxelles OFFICIALS are desperately seeking hundreds of pigs to eat the millions of acorns that have fallen in New Forest before the fruits poison the area’s ponies. Forestry officials have appealed for more people to take part in the annual pannage tradition, in which pigs are released into the Hampshire forest to feast on green acorns. Normally only 200 pigs are needed for the 60-day forage, but an unusually mild spring and hot, dry summer has resulted in a glut

of acorns, so 300 more are needed this year. Jonathan Gerrelli, New Forest’s head agister, said: “Acorns are poisonous to ponies and cattle. If they eat them they start to bleed internally and die a horrible death. “They are not toxic to pigs who enjoy feasting on them. Pannage is the only time of year they are free to roam anywhere in New Forest. They would cause too much damage if they were wild. “For the last couple of years we have had hardly any acorns on the forest floor and so haven’t needed that many pigs, but it was obvious in the summer there was a lot more fruit on the trees.” Pannage, or Common of Mast, stretches back to medieval times and allows commoners, as landowners in the area are known, to graze pigs in the forest. The commoners pay a token fee of £1 for every pig they turn out. Each pig is marked with an identity tag on its ear and has a ring put through its nose to stop it causing damage to the forest. In the

19th century about 6,000 pigs took part in pannage, but nowadays only a few hundred turn out because the number of pigs owned by Commoners has fallen. Tony Kirkham, the head of arboretum at Kew Gardens, said: “It has been a bumper year for acorns. Oak trees tend to have a mast year — a cycle in which one year out of about five years they will produce a lot of fruit and then have a rest for the other years. So it is probably a combination of it being a mast year and the hot weather. “The heat ripens the wood and encourages flowering. We didn’t have much of a frost this spring, so that also helped.” Forestry officials will announce the starting date for pannage on September 20.Peter H All New Mail – Tired of Vi@gr@! come-ons? Let our SpamGuard protect you.

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nothing

they are just worried about horses/ponies eating them

certain horses develop a taste for em

acorns are very high in protein and fats..and an equine's intestinal tract can't handle it...

they're intestines become inflamed, and with all the protein, water is rushed into the intestines.

this leads to dehydration and diarhea...

a horse can literally die within a couple hours...

 

lots of cultures have utilized acorns over the centuries

they just have a high tannin content, and need to be soaked forever, and sometimes repeatedly, before they are palatable to our tastes....

and, most people nowadays don't have the time or patience for such things, at least not in western societies....

cheers

fraggle

Borderjoy Sep 14, 2006 2:34 PM Re: Wanted: 500 pigs to save ponies from toxic acorns Whats wrong with people eating them? I thought I read somewhere you can make flour out of them or something? Could be wrong but I think the Native Americans used too. namaste,Sky.

Until lions have their historians, tales of the hunt shall always

glorify the hunter

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The oak trees are absolutely dripping with acorns this year - and there are far more berries on all the trees and bushes than normal, particularly the hawthorns.

 

Jo

 

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peter VV

Thursday, September 14, 2006 7:44 PM

Re: Wanted: 500 pigs to save ponies from toxic acorns

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Times

September 14, 2006

 

 

 

Acorns are good for pigs but poisonous to New Forest ponies (Phil Yeomans/Bournemouth News)

 

 

 

 

 

Wanted: 500 pigs to save ponies from toxic acornsBy Simon de Bruxelles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OFFICIALS are desperately seeking hundreds of pigs to eat the millions of acorns that have fallen in New Forest before the fruits poison the area’s ponies. Forestry officials have appealed for more people to take part in the annual pannage tradition, in which pigs are released into the Hampshire forest to feast on green acorns.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Normally only 200 pigs are needed for the 60-day forage, but an unusually mild spring and hot, dry summer has resulted in a glut of acorns, so 300 more are needed this year. Jonathan Gerrelli, New Forest’s head agister, said: “Acorns are poisonous to ponies and cattle. If they eat them they start to bleed internally and die a horrible death. “They are not toxic to pigs who enjoy feasting on them. Pannage is the only time of year they are free to roam anywhere in New Forest. They would cause too much damage if they were wild. “For the last couple of years we have had hardly any acorns on the forest floor and so haven’t needed that many pigs, but it was obvious in the summer there was a lot more fruit on the trees.” Pannage, or Common of Mast, stretches back to medieval times and allows commoners, as landowners in the area are known, to graze pigs in the forest. The commoners pay a token fee of £1 for every pig they turn out. Each pig is marked with an identity tag on its ear and has a ring put through its nose to stop it causing damage to the forest. In the 19th century about 6,000 pigs took part in pannage, but nowadays only a few hundred turn out because the number of pigs owned by Commoners has fallen. Tony Kirkham, the head of arboretum at Kew Gardens, said: “It has been a bumper year for acorns. Oak trees tend to have a mast year — a cycle in which one year out of about five years they will produce a lot of fruit and then have a rest for the other years. So it is probably a combination of it being a mast year and the hot weather. “The heat ripens the wood and encourages flowering. We didn’t have much of a frost this spring, so that also helped.” Forestry officials will announce the starting date for pannage on September 20.

Peter H

 

 

 

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There is an acorn coffee substitute.

 

Jo

 

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Borderjoy

Thursday, September 14, 2006 10:34 PM

Re: Wanted: 500 pigs to save ponies from toxic acorns

Whats wrong with people eating them? I thought I read somewhere you can make flour out of them or something? Could be wrong but I think the Native Americans used too. namaste,Sky.peter VV <swpgh01 wrote:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Times

September 14, 2006

 

 

 

Acorns are good for pigs but poisonous to New Forest ponies (Phil Yeomans/Bournemouth News)

 

 

 

 

 

Wanted: 500 pigs to save ponies from toxic acornsBy Simon de Bruxelles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OFFICIALS are desperately seeking hundreds of pigs to eat the millions of acorns that have fallen in New Forest before the fruits poison the area’s ponies. Forestry officials have appealed for more people to take part in the annual pannage tradition, in which pigs are released into the Hampshire forest to feast on green acorns.

 

 

 

 

 

Normally only 200 pigs are needed for the 60-day forage, but an unusually mild spring and hot, dry summer has resulted in a glut of acorns, so 300 more are needed this year. Jonathan Gerrelli, New Forest’s head agister, said: “Acorns are poisonous to ponies and cattle. If they eat them they start to bleed internally and die a horrible death. “They are not toxic to pigs who enjoy feasting on them. Pannage is the only time of year they are free to roam anywhere in New Forest. They would cause too much damage if they were wild. “For the last couple of years we have had hardly any acorns on the forest floor and so haven’t needed that many pigs, but it was obvious in the summer there was a lot more fruit on the trees.” Pannage, or Common of Mast, stretches back to medieval times and allows commoners, as landowners in the area are known, to graze pigs in the forest. The commoners pay a token fee of £1 for every pig they turn out. Each pig is marked with an identity tag on its ear and has a ring put through its nose to stop it causing damage to the forest. In the 19th century about 6,000 pigs took part in pannage, but nowadays only a few hundred turn out because the number of pigs owned by Commoners has fallen. Tony Kirkham, the head of arboretum at Kew Gardens, said: “It has been a bumper year for acorns. Oak trees tend to have a mast year — a cycle in which one year out of about five years they will produce a lot of fruit and then have a rest for the other years. So it is probably a combination of it being a mast year and the hot weather. “The heat ripens the wood and encourages flowering. We didn’t have much of a frost this spring, so that also helped.” Forestry officials will announce the starting date for pannage on September 20.

Peter H

 

 

 

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Country folk used to say that it was a sign of nature providing for a harsh winter ahead. I`m not so sure, probably a sign of longer warm seasons due to global warming perhaps? The Valley Vegan.................jo <jo.heartwork wrote: The oak trees are absolutely dripping with acorns this year - and there are far more berries on all the trees and bushes than normal, particularly the hawthorns. Jo -

peter VV Thursday, September 14, 2006 7:44 PM Re: Wanted: 500 pigs to save ponies from toxic acorns The Times September 14, 2006 Acorns are good for pigs but poisonous to New Forest ponies (Phil Yeomans/Bournemouth News) Wanted: 500 pigs to save ponies from toxic acornsBy Simon de Bruxelles OFFICIALS are desperately seeking hundreds of pigs to eat the millions of acorns that have fallen in New Forest before the fruits poison the area’s ponies. Forestry officials have appealed for more people to take part in the annual pannage tradition, in which pigs are released into the Hampshire forest to feast on green acorns. Normally only 200 pigs are needed for the 60-day forage, but an unusually mild spring and hot, dry summer has resulted in a glut of acorns, so 300 more are needed this year. Jonathan Gerrelli, New Forest’s head agister, said: “Acorns are poisonous to ponies and cattle. If they eat them

they start to bleed internally and die a horrible death. “They are not toxic to pigs who enjoy feasting on them. Pannage is the only time of year they are free to roam anywhere in New Forest. They would cause too much damage if they were wild. “For the last couple of years we have had hardly any acorns on the forest floor and so haven’t needed that many pigs, but it was obvious in the summer there was a lot more fruit on the trees.” Pannage, or Common of Mast, stretches back to medieval times and allows commoners, as landowners in the area are known, to graze pigs in the forest. The commoners pay a token fee of £1 for every pig they turn out. Each pig is marked with an identity tag on its ear and has a ring put through its nose to stop it causing damage to the forest. In the 19th century about 6,000 pigs took part in pannage, but nowadays only a few hundred turn out because the number of pigs owned by Commoners has fallen. Kirkham, the head of arboretum at Kew Gardens, said: “It has been a bumper year for acorns. Oak trees tend to have a mast year — a cycle in which one year out of about five years they will produce a lot of fruit and then have a rest for the other years. So it is probably a combination of it being a mast year and the hot weather. “The heat ripens the wood and encourages flowering. We didn’t have much of a frost this spring, so that also helped.” Forestry officials will announce the starting date for pannage on September 20. Peter H All New Mail – Tired of Vi@gr@! come-ons? Let our SpamGuard protect you. Peter H

 

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And acorn coffe tastes pants! The Valley Vegan.................fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote: nothing they are just worried about horses/ponies eating them certain horses develop a taste for em acorns are very high in protein and fats..and an equine's intestinal tract can't handle it... they're intestines become inflamed, and with all the protein, water is rushed into the intestines. this leads to dehydration and diarhea... a horse can literally die within a couple hours... lots of cultures have utilized acorns over the centuries they just have a high tannin content, and need to be soaked forever, and sometimes

repeatedly, before they are palatable to our tastes.... and, most people nowadays don't have the time or patience for such things, at least not in western societies.... cheers fraggle Borderjoy Sep 14, 2006 2:34 PM Re: Wanted: 500 pigs to save ponies from toxic acorns Whats wrong with people eating them? I thought I read somewhere you can make flour out of them or something? Could be wrong but I think the Native Americans used too. namaste,Sky. Until lions have their historians, tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunterPeter H

 

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Hi Peter

 

>And acorn coffe tastes pants!

 

Which would be a helpful comment if I'd ever tasted any pants ;-)

 

BB

Peter

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substitute the word pants for crap/ awful/ budwieser / etc etc. The Valley Vegan...................Peter <metalscarab wrote: Hi Peter >And acorn coffe tastes pants! Which would be a helpful comment if I'd ever tasted any pants ;-) BB Peter Peter H

 

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That's right - maybe the two go together.

 

Jo

 

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peter VV

Friday, September 15, 2006 8:27 PM

Re: Wanted: 500 pigs to save ponies from toxic acorns

 

Country folk used to say that it was a sign of nature providing for a harsh winter ahead. I`m not so sure, probably a sign of longer warm seasons due to global warming perhaps?

 

The Valley Vegan.................

[Guest guest]

I didn't like it either.

 

Jo

 

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peter VV

Friday, September 15, 2006 8:36 PM

Re: Wanted: 500 pigs to save ponies from toxic acorns

 

And acorn coffe tastes pants!

 

The Valley Vegan.................

[Guest guest]

Yuk! :-)

 

Jo

 

BBJo

 

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Peter

Friday, September 15, 2006 9:24 PM

Re: Wanted: 500 pigs to save ponies from toxic acorns

 

Hi Peter

 

>And acorn coffe tastes pants!

 

Which would be a helpful comment if I'd ever tasted any pants ;-)

 

BB

Peter