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The potential toxicity of Australian weeds to goats

The potential toxicity of Australian weeds to goats

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ASCLEPIAS CURASSAVICA<br />

Alternative Name:<br />

Red-head cot<strong>to</strong>n bush<br />

Toxicity <strong>to</strong> Goats:<br />

Toxic, moderate risk<br />

Toxicity <strong>to</strong> Other Species:<br />

Cattle, sheep, horse, donkey, pigs<br />

Palatability: Not eaten<br />

Poisonous Principle:<br />

Cardiac glycocides, notably the cardenolide<br />

g<strong>of</strong>ruside<br />

Effects:<br />

Signs and symp<strong>to</strong>ms; Depression, diarrhoea,<br />

slow irregular heart beat and eventually<br />

heart block.<br />

Health and production problems; Rapid death<br />

in some cases, but little effect in others.<br />

Integrated Control Strategy:<br />

GARDEN ESCAPEE<br />

Weed out in<strong>to</strong> disposable bags, especially the<br />

pods. Spot spray the area with herbicide.<br />

Glyphosate, or “Group I” type.<br />

Do not feed these clippings <strong>to</strong> any lives<strong>to</strong>ck.<br />

Comments:<br />

Ruminants, such as the goat, are more <strong>to</strong>lerant<br />

<strong>of</strong> this type <strong>of</strong> plant than horses and donkeys.<br />

Plants <strong>of</strong> this genus are generally only eaten<br />

during droughts.<br />

A perennial woody herb growing <strong>to</strong> about a<br />

metre high. It produces latex when damaged.<br />

Reproduces by wind blown seed. <strong>The</strong> stems<br />

are rigid, green at the base and usually reddish<br />

<strong>to</strong>wards the <strong>to</strong>p. <strong>The</strong> leaves are long, narrow<br />

and dark green, tapering <strong>to</strong> a point at both<br />

ends.<br />

Bunches <strong>of</strong> red/yellow flowers grow at the<br />

ends <strong>of</strong> the branches. <strong>The</strong> fruiting pods release<br />

many flat seeds, which have long silky hairs at<br />

one end, from late summer <strong>to</strong> autumn.<br />

11<br />

A weed <strong>of</strong> the central and north coast <strong>of</strong> NSW,<br />

and coastal Queensland, but also occurs in<br />

other states. A weed <strong>of</strong> pastures and roadsides.<br />

It is relatively unpalatable <strong>to</strong> all lives<strong>to</strong>ck.<br />

This plant is a host <strong>to</strong> the “Wanderer”, or<br />

Monarch butterfly.<br />

No 221 Asclepias spp<br />

CORNELL UNIVERSITY

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