Stachys arvensis
field woundwort
Straggly annual growing to about 25cm. Pink / purple flowers all year round, leaves heart shaped and slightly hairy.
Red dead nettle and several garden plants.
Cultivated ground, especially among fodder crops.
Unknown
All stock may be affected. In Australia sheep are most often affected. Most commonly a poisoning of late winter and early spring from ingesting the young green plant. Only one reported case in NZ.
Staggers when the animals are exercised. Lambs have been poisoned by drinking ewe’s milk. Signs of cystitis have been reported. Death may occur.
Known access to the plant, clinical signs or finding plant in the rumen.
In a suspected case in the Rangitikei, 20 of 300 lambs died.
Conner H.E. The Poisonous Plants In New Zealand. 1992. GP Publications Ltd, Wellington
Cooper M R, Johnson A W. Poisonous Plants and Fungi in Britan: Animals and Human Poisoning. Her Majesty’s Stationary Office. London. 1998
Parton K, Bruere A.N. and Chambers J.P. Veterinary Clinical Toxicology, 2nd ed. 2001. Veterinary Continuing Education Publication No. 208
Surveillance 37 (2) 39, 2010 Staggerweed poisoning in lambs.
Monday, July 12, 2010
