Farmer Loses Dozens of Sheep to Deadly Acorn Poisoning

On September 30th, 2025, a Welsh farmer named Geraint Davies discovered a devastating loss on his farm in Bala, Gwynedd. Davies, who runs Fedwarian Uchaf, went to check on his livestock and found dozens of sheep corpses scattered across his fields, many of them lying under oak trees.

An investigation revealed that the sheep had died from acorn poisoning. This year's warm and dry spring had led to a "mast year" for oak trees, resulting in an unusually large crop of acorns. Acorns are highly toxic to livestock, and when consumed in large quantities, they can cause ulcers in the digestive tract and damage the kidneys, ultimately leading to kidney failure.

Post-mortem examinations confirmed that the sheep's kidneys were struggling to function due to the high toxicity levels. In total, 34 of Davies' sheep have died so far, with the potential for more losses. Each sheep was worth around £150, resulting in over £5,000 in losses for the farmer.

The National Farmers' Union of Wales has advised farmers to move their livestock away from oak trees whenever possible to prevent such tragic incidents. While Davies wanted to encourage nature on his farm, the cruel reality is that nature can sometimes pay back in unexpected and devastating ways.