Title: Sheep production as a Senecio spp. control tool

Abstract: Since poisoning by Senecio spp. is one of the main causes of cattle death in southern Brazil, control of these plants is a priority for the local livestock production. After the pasture has been mowed, grazing by 16 sheep was efficient for controlling Senecio brasiliensis and Senecio madagascariensis populations in a 5.5-hectare area that had long been severely infested with these species. A total of 28,629 plants among S. brasiliensis (flower-of-souls, 10,122) and S. madagascariensis (fireweed, 18,507) were almost completely eliminated in a two-year period. The number of sheep was kept at 3.0 stock units/ha, but a variable number of cattle were temporarily stocked according to pasture availability. The major sanitary practice applied to the sheep was anthelmintic administration. Liver biopsies taken from sheep and cattle before and after experimental period didn’t reveal any change associable with seneciosis. The performance levels of the sheep were comparable to those observed in flocks managed under traditional extensive grazing systems in southern Brazil. [Bandarra P.M., Oliveira L.G., Dalto A.G., Boabaid F.M., Juffo G., Riet-Correa F., Driemeier D. & Cruz C.E.F. (2012). Sheep production as a Senecio spp. control tool. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira, 32(10):1017-1022] [Photo caption: The Senecio brasiliensis populations infesting the contiguous area adjacent to but on the other side of the fence that limits the sheep paddock.] ${imageDescription} Comment

Keywords: Senecio brasiliensis, Senecio madagascariensis, control, sheep grazing, sheep performance.

Full-text available here



Attachments:
ScreenCapture1.jpg
Article: WeedsNews3836 (permalink)
Categories: :WeedsNews:sheep, :WeedsNews:research alert, :WeedsNews:weed control, :WeedsNews:non-chemical control, :WeedsNews:physical weed control
Date: 7 October 2012; 12:05:41 AM AEST

Author Name: David Low
Author ID: adminDavid