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The potential toxicity of Australian weeds to goats

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DUBOISIA SPP<br />

Alternative Name:<br />

Corkwood<br />

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

Toxic, high risk<br />

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

Toxic <strong>to</strong> cattle, sheep, horses, camels and pigs<br />

Palatability: Not known <strong>to</strong> be eaten<br />

Poisonous Principle:<br />

<strong>The</strong> tropane alkaloids, hyoscyamine,<br />

scopolamine and atropine<br />

Effects:<br />

Signs and symp<strong>to</strong>ms; Constipation and<br />

infrequent urination, some initial excitation<br />

with later depression, muscle trembling,<br />

weakness leading <strong>to</strong> an unsteady gait and<br />

eventual recumbency. Dilated pupils, dry<br />

mouth and nose, an increased heart rate but<br />

a weak pulse, loss <strong>of</strong> rumen sounds and<br />

laboured respiration. Some cases may<br />

progress further <strong>to</strong> either coma or terminal<br />

convulsions.<br />

Health and production problems; Death in<br />

some cases within 12 hours <strong>of</strong> first signs,<br />

but many cases may recover with no long<br />

term effects on their productivity.<br />

Integrated Control Strategy:<br />

Be aware <strong>of</strong> <strong>potential</strong> s<strong>to</strong>ck problems.<br />

Comments:<br />

<strong>The</strong>se plants are generally avoided, but hungry<br />

s<strong>to</strong>ck, or s<strong>to</strong>ck new <strong>to</strong> an area, may eat them,<br />

or they may turn up as contaminants in hay, or<br />

their <strong>to</strong>xic seeds may contaminate feed grain.<br />

<strong>The</strong>se are shrubs or small trees up <strong>to</strong> about 8<br />

metres high, with a corky bark. <strong>The</strong> flowers<br />

are whitish, appearing about late winter, and<br />

the fruits are black round berries.<br />

35

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