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The potential toxicity of Australian weeds to goats

The potential toxicity of Australian weeds to goats

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iii<br />

in<strong>to</strong> five classes: (1) the senses, (2) species and breeds, (3) individual variation, (4)<br />

previous experience and (5) physiological condition. <strong>The</strong> actual ability <strong>of</strong> <strong>goats</strong> <strong>to</strong> utilise<br />

a variety <strong>of</strong> vegetation types is attributed <strong>to</strong> their dexterity, narrower mouth, mobile<br />

upper lip, prehensile <strong>to</strong>ngue and propensity <strong>to</strong> stretch upward on the hind legs <strong>to</strong> reach<br />

forage. Plant-based fac<strong>to</strong>rs include (1) species, (2) intra specific variation, (3) chemical<br />

composition, (4) morphology or physical traits and (5) succulence or maturation.<br />

Examples <strong>of</strong> the interaction <strong>of</strong> these fac<strong>to</strong>rs are provided in Allan and Holst (1996).<br />

<strong>The</strong> palatability <strong>to</strong> <strong>goats</strong> <strong>of</strong> some <strong>of</strong> the more common non-<strong>to</strong>xic <strong>Australian</strong><br />

<strong>weeds</strong> allowed Allan, Holst and Campbell (1999) <strong>to</strong> formulate weed management plans<br />

based on <strong>goats</strong>:<br />

• preventing the weed from flowering and dispersing seed,<br />

• preferentially grazing the weed and so placing it at a disadvantage,<br />

• ringbarking or structurally weakening some shrub species.<br />

Including <strong>goats</strong> in a weed control program can be effective, economic and<br />

ecologically sound but their inclusion should not be assumed for each situation. To<br />

include <strong>goats</strong>, the weed has <strong>to</strong> be non-<strong>to</strong>xic; palatable or attractive <strong>to</strong> <strong>goats</strong>; and the <strong>goats</strong><br />

and associated lives<strong>to</strong>ck species have <strong>to</strong> be contained and managed.

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