[ABC News - By Sam Burgess: 15 Feb, 2010] The Department of Corrective Services has defended its management practices after 28 cattle died at a jail on southern Queensland's Darling Downs. The cattle were part of a project at the Westbrook prison farm, west of Toowoomba. Prison general manager Bernie Kruhse says the cows died after eating a deadly weed.
"The circumstances that lead to the eating of that noxious weed were, we planted a crop and as everyone would know in this district, the crop failed due to the severe weather," he said.
"We had no rain for quite some time. It did grow six to eight inches, so rather than plough it back in we allowed the cattle to graze it, rather than waste it, and they've eaten some of that noxious weed whilst grazing."
Mr Kruhse says a veterinarian has confirmed they ate a weed known as Daytura stramonium or the 'purple thorn apple'.
"On the check there was no water in the trough but we've since had advice from our vet of 20 years' experience at the correctional centre, together with Department of Primary Industries, they have agreed and found that the death of those cattle is from poisoning, not from dehydration," he said.