The potential toxicity of Australian weeds to goats

ECHIUM VULGARE
Alternative Name:
Viper’s bugloss
Toxicity to Goats:
Toxic, moderate risk
Toxicity to Other Species:
Toxic to pigs, horses, cattle and to a lesser
extent sheep
Palatability: High at flowering
Poisonous Principle:
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids
Effects:
Signs and symptoms; Sometimes chronic
weight loss, or sometimes acute jaundice
with or without photosensitization, or
sometimes sudden death with no other
signs.
Health and production problems; Chronic
ingestion of this plant may lead to
significant liver damage and subsequent
reduced long term productivity.
Chronically damaged livers in some
ruminants are inclined to accumulate
excessive amounts of copper, which can
ultimately be released and kill the animal in
the process.
Integrated Control Strategy:
Pasture improve, spray graze using goats.
Biological controls are being tested, but take
care not to destroy the organisms in the
process of spray grazing.
This is a declared “Noxious Weed” in Victoria,
parts of NSW and Tasmania.
Comments:
Goats and sheep may tolerate many months of
ingestion, but eventually risk being poisoned if
the plant has been eaten in significant amounts
for more than one season. By this stage some
animals may start to loose weight and become
ill thrifty and others, which appear to be in
very good condition, may suddenly become
jaundiced and die.
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A biennial, sometimes perennial rosette forb
with basal leaves, stalkless and spear shaped.
The leaves have a warty appearance, and the
leaf veins are longitudinal, not branched as in
paterson’s curse.
The flowers are on a pronounced spike, and are
long lasting, small, and pale to dark blue.
No 03522 Echium vulgare
NSW AGRICULTURE