Pharmacology, Toxicology and Environmental Health Commons^™

Cotton Fireweed : Potential Poison : Research Roundup, J Dickson, R. Hill

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Although long known as a potential toxic species because of its content, and although it is widely distribuited in all Australian States, cotton fireweed has not generally been consdidered toxic because it is unpalatable and not usually eaten by stock.

In 1973 cattle deaths occured near Ravensthorpe which led to research into Senecio quadridentatus (cotton fireweed).

The plant must be seen as a potential toxic species in situations where the lack of other feed forces cattle to eat the normally unpalatable cotton fireweed.

Effect On Bees Of Insecticides Used On Rape, A C. Kessell

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Rapeseed could provide beekeepers in Western Australia with a valuable new honey crop—hut insecticidal spraying of rape at flowering time is a potentially serious threat to most commercial beekeepers.

There are indications that insect pollination may improve rapeseed yields, so both growers and beekeepers could gain from a co-operative approach to the problem. Spraying after sundown and preventing spray drift to nearby apiaries should avoid most losses.

Poison Sedge Can Kill Stock, M E. Nairn, T. E. H. Aplin, D. S. Petterson, A. J. Brighton

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

POISON SEDGE was first suspected of being toxic to livestock in Western Australia nearly 80 years ago.

Sudden deaths of sheep grazing areas on which poison sedge grew have been reported from many regions from Geraldton to Scott River.

This article reports a case of poisoning in the field, and the experimental reproduction of poison sedge toxicity in pen-fed sheep.

Poultry : Toxic Factors In Protein Supplements, D F. Hessels

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The toxic effect of low quality and/or stale protein supplements can be a problem in the poultry industry.

This article describes trials carried out to assess their importance in Western Australia.

Chemical Poisoning In Animals. 1. Arsenic, H D. Seddon

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

ARSENIC is poisonous to all animals and to man in quite small amounts and exposure to poisoning is often a result of human carelessness.

It is present in many chemical dips used for control of insect parasites on stock, and in agricultural fruit sprays and weed killers whose relative cheapness makes their use economical.

However, their potential danger and the economic loss they may cause are a disadvantage.

Lupinosis, H W. Bennetts

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

LUPINOSIS is a disease which has caused severe mortalities in West Australian sheep flocks in recent years, and one which—because of the important role which lupins are playing in light land development—must inevitably continue to be a matter of serious concern.

Bracken Poisoning In Cattle, P B. Lewis

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE ingestion of bracken fern causes the death of numbers of young cattle in the South-West of Western Australia every year.

Early experimental work in the United Kingdom demonstrated that bracken contained an anti-Vitamin Bl factor called thiaminase which was thought to be the cause of the poisoning, but later work indicated that a bone marrow poisoning, not yet chemically identified, was responsible.

Zamia Palm Poisoning, F C. Wilkinson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE Zamia palm (Macrozamia Reidlei) is a common plant in the jarrah and karri forest country and on the coastal plains and is one of the earliest recorded Australian poison plants.